Finishes and Types of Beads and Stones

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Bead embroidery is a type of beadwork that uses a needle and thread to stitch beads to a surface of fabric. Beads come in different types, sizes and materials. They are made of glass, wood, shell, plastic, ceramics, metal ect.

Beads can be categorized according to their shape, surface finish as well as the type of materials they are made of.

Beads finishes

  • Transparent beads – clear or colored glass beads that allow light to pass through the surface
  • Lustre finish – This is a high gloss finish on a transparent bead
  • Silver lined – Beads with a mirror-like lining inside
  • Opaque beads – Beads that do not allow light to pass through
  • Celton finish – A pearly finish mostly in a soft pastel color, usually on an opaque bead
  • Frosted finish – frosted looking finish
  • Galvanised finish – A metallic finish
  • Iris finish – This finish gives beads an iridescent coating. The finish causes to have color variations throughout the hank
  • Gunmetal finish – Have a metallic coating over the glass.
  • Colour lined beads – Two-toned beads with one color on the outside and another on the inside
u003ch2u003eBeads and Stones typesu003c/h2u003e
u003cpu003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-20650 alignnone alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://designmyfabric.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beads-seed.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022u003eu003c/pu003enu003ch3 style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eSeed Beadsu003c/h3u003enu003cp style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eThese are round shaped bead which are made of glass. They come in a wide variety of colours, clear, iridescent or silver lined. They are one of the most common bead used in our fabrics. The name is no doubt attributable to their small size which can resemble roundish plant seeds.u003c/pu003e
u003ch3u003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-20653 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://designmyfabric.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beads-Cylinder-bead-2.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022u003eCylinder Beadsu003c/h3u003enu003cpu003eCylinder beads are a variety of seed beads that have a uniform tube shape with straight sides and large holes.u003c/pu003e
u003ch3u003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-20691 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://designmyfabric.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beads-Bugle-Beads.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022 /u003eSmooth Bugle Beadsu003c/h3u003enu003cp style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eThese are long glass beads which are shaped like a tube. They are totally smooth with no sides. The sizes of bugle beads range from 2mm to 40mm.u003c/pu003e
u003ch3u003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-20692 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://designmyfabric.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beads-twited-Bugle-Beads.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022 /u003eHex and Twisted Hex Bugle Beadsu003c/h3u003enu003cp style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eThese are just like smooth bugle beads but are cut on the sides and also may come in a twisted variety.u003c/pu003e
u003ch3u003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-20659 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://designmyfabric.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beads-Faceted-Beads-2.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022u003eFaceted Beadsu003c/h3u003enu003cp style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eThese are beads that are cut to produce multiple flat faces that create a sparkling effect. Faceted beads are often made of glassu003c/pu003e
u003ch3u003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-20658 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://designmyfabric.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beads-pearls.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022u003eCostume Pearlsu003c/h3u003enu003cp style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eAlso known as faux pearls or plastic pearls or imitation . They can be made of glass, plastic or fish-scales which are coated with a material which makes them look like pearlu003c/pu003e
u003cpu003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-20661 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://designmyfabric.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beads-Crystal-chatons-2.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022u003eu003c/pu003enu003ch3 style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eCrystal Chatonsu003c/h3u003enu003cp style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eThese are multi faceted crystals and reflects large amount of light. These machine cut glass stones are consistent in shape and size. Usually they are glued on the net.u003c/pu003e
u003ch3u003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-20669 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://designmyfabric.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beads-Flat-Back-Rhinestones-2.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022 /u003eSew-on Flat Back Rhinestonesu003c/h3u003enu003cp style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eThese kind of rhinestones create no gap between the fabric and the bottom of the crystal after stitching. Flat back rhinestones sit very nicely on the fabric. We usually use one hole flatback with a bead on it to hide the thread completely.u003c/pu003e
u003ch3u003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-20701 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://designmyfabric.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beads-Hot-Fix-Crystals.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022 /u003e Hot Fix Crystalsu003c/h3u003enu003cp style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eThey have flat back and have glue on their back which is waterproof. These hot fix crystals reflects large amount of lights which makes them perfect embellishment materials.u003c/pu003e
u003ch3u003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-20667 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://designmyfabric.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beads-Stones-with-Catcher.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022u003eStones with Catcheru003c/h3u003enu003cp style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eStones are placed on catcher and there are holes in catcher for sewing. These crystal rhinestones are placed on different types of catchers like D catcher, flower catcher and more. Various types of colors and shapes likes round, square, rectangle, marquise, teardrop, etcu003c/pu003enu003cp style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eu0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e
u003ch3u003eu003cimg class=u0022alignnone size-medium wp-image-20665 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://designmyfabric.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beads-Rhinestone-chains.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022 /u003eu003c/h3u003enu003ch3u003eRhinestone Chainsu003c/h3u003enu003cp style=u0022text-align: left;u0022u003eIt’s basically glass or acrylic rhinestones put in a chain of metal holdersu003c/pu003e

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