Informative
Miyuki Delica Beads – Why Use Them for Bead Tapestry Looming?
Nov
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Estimated reading time: 17 minutes
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IYUKI Delica beads were created by MIYUKI CO. LTD. in 1982.
They were originally created to replace antique French metal steel beads. However, now… well they have become the most popular and widely used beads in the world, especially when it comes to bead weaving!
They are the preference of most bead artists and are typically used for peyote stitch, brick stitch, and looming projects. Their consistent tubular shape allows for the creation of the most amazing pieces.
Huge Range of Colors
Miyuki Delica Beads are cylinder-shaped Japanese glass seed beads.
They are now available in four sizes – 15/0, 11/0, 10/0, and 8/0. However, 11/0 has the largest range of colours and finishes, so it is preferred by bead weavers.
There are more than 1000 colors and finishes to choose from, 1273 colors as of the time of writing this post with new colors created every year
You will find some gaps in the range of numbers used to name Delica beads, with the Delica 11/0 bead numbers ranging from DB0001 to DB2525.
The reason is that Miyuki reserves a number of slots for brand-new bead colours. That’s why you would see the number go as high as DB2525 but there are only about 1273 colors.
Each year Miyuki develops various beads in different colours and finishes.
Head over to the Miyuki website to download the Delica Sample Cards for free. Make sure to select the Delica 11/0 size. Please keep in mind that the colors on the screen do not match the actual color of the bead exactly.
Miyuki Delica Characteristics
Also characteristic of Delica beads is their proportionately thin wall and a large hole for their size.
It allows more threads to pass through the woven work. This might not be as significant for weaving as it is for peyote or square stitch, where the weft thread will do multiple passes through an individual bead. However, it allows for some room for finishing warp ends and securing the ends of the weft into the tapestry itself.
Delica Bead 11/0 Dimensions:
| Diameter = 1.60 mm |
| Length = 1.30 mm |
| Hole = 0.80~0.85 mm |
Please be aware that some of the beads may be slightly larger and the holes slightly narrower because of certain finishes applied to the beads.
A key feature of the Delica beads is allowing for some freedom to correct any mistakes made during the weaving process. This means more passes through the beads with the weft thread.
Since the Delica bead has a large hole, the bead itself has less glass in it. This leads to the lighter weight of the finished product but also for another reason…..
Why does the weight of the beads matter?
Well, it is something to consider when comparing the prices of beads that are sold in grams as in the case of Delica beads.
Why Are They So Popular?
Artists around the world prefer MIYUKI over the typical Chinese or Czech beads for projects which require a lot of detail.
The beads are sought after for their uniform shape and size. This means less time and expense is spent on culling misshapen beads. Delica beads still may need culling, but rarely compared to other brands. You can see in the image on the right that not all beads are equal in size and the shape is not uniform. This is more evident when the beads are loaded onto the weft and even more so when they are woven onto the warp threads
You can see that the beads are uneven in size, both the diameter of the beads and the length of the beads. Does this mean that you cannot weave with these kinds of beads? No, but you will need to be more selective with which beads you pick up with your needle onto the weft thread for the best result. This means individually inspecting every bead, which can be time-consuming, to say the least.
Delica beads are also preferred for their large holes and lighter weight and also for the huge selection of colors and finishes.
The artists who weave beaded tapestries worldwide have used Delica beads to paint with and create sculptures using each bead as a single pixel.
Coatings and Finishes
Delica beads have a range of coatings or finishes applied to them. These are usually abbreviated by suppliers and to make things even more confusing, each supplier has their own version of the abbreviation. Just as an example the Ceylon finish can be abbreviated CYLN or CEY.
To help dispel this confusion, Beading Treasures has a Miyuki Delica Abbreviations page that lists the abbreviations that we use and a brief definition.
As mentioned before, some coatings on the beads may sometimes make the beads just a tiny bit larger. In addition, the hole inside the bead may shrink just a little bit. If you are using a size 10 needle or thicker, you may find your needle passing through some beads easily and not so much through others.
Naming Convention
Regardless of how different suppliers name their beads and the finishes applied to them, the Delica Bead Number, thankfully, will always remain the same.
Let’s take a random bead color, for example, DB0271, and see some naming convention for that particular color.
DB0271 Galvanized Crystal
DB0271 Lined Crystal Silver Pearl
DB0271 Crystal Lined
DB0271 Sparkling Silver Grey Lined Crystal
DB0271 Crystal Lined Dyed
The Miyuki Delica Website does not list any names for the beads just the numbers and the finishes or coatings.
DB0271 is listed as Inside Dyed.
Go directly to the Miyuki Delica Color and Durability page for more accurate details about the color finishes and durability.
Purchasing Delica Beads
Delica 11/0 beads are sold in tubes and sometimes in baggies weighing 5, 5.2, and 7.5 grams.
They are also offered in 20 and 50 grams!
There are even some suppliers that sell by the gram!
Sounds like I’m talking about precious metals, doesn’t it?
In a sense I am. Some of the Delica beads are coated with 24kt Gold (DB2521 to DB2525).
So some types of beads naturally cost more than others.
There are a few factors to consider and steps to take when purchasing beads.
- Some beads weigh more than others because of the extra coating applied to them.
- They even look a touch more substantial upon closer inspection.
- So there will be slightly fewer beads per gram when you purchase them.
- How many beads do you need of a particular color?
- Calculating how many grams you need of that same color.
- Determining which size tube/baggie you need. Some suppliers only offer 7.5 grams for example while others offer 5g packages
- Determining how many tubes/baggies you need according to the size of the packages and the number of beads required.
To help you with all of this, we have designed a widget that you can add to your digital planner or just print out if you wish.
Download this Purchasing Beads widget from the Beading Treasures shop.
For more info please visit:
In Conclusion
The fact that there are more than 1000 colors and finishes. Along with the fact that new colors are introduced each year. In addition, there are numerous suppliers online and these beads can be found in local bead stores around the world. Leading to the reason why artists prefer MIYUKI Delica beads to Chinese or Czech beads for projects that require high levels of detail.
That is why as of the time of writing this post, Beading Treasures only designs patterns with Miyuki Delica beads.
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