Bead Embroidery: A Guide to Seed Bead Categories

Debates in bead-embroidery communities often focus on Czech versus Japanese seed beads. For beginners, it can be more useful to first understand the available finishes and how they can affect the look of an embroidered design. Product labels vary by manufacturer, so compare samples before committing to a project.

Transparent seed beads (Transparent)

Transparent seed beads are made of evenly coloured glass and have a clear, bottle-glass-like colour. They can create a soft, understated background. They are also useful for petals with colour changes, folds in clothing, or visually distant details.

Opaque seed beads (Opaque)

Opaque seed beads are glass beads with a solid, even colour and a restrained sheen. They work well for details such as architectural lines, crosses, or garments in icon embroidery, helping key elements stand out against a quiet background.

Rainbow seed beads (Rainbow)

Rainbow seed beads have a bright iridescent finish. They may be transparent or opaque and may be coloured inside as well as outside. They are often used for small motifs, brooches, and decorative details on clothing.

Silver-lined seed beads (Silver-Lined)

Silver-lined seed beads have a distinctive silvery sheen. The outside is transparent while the inner core is silver-coloured. Their bright, softly diffused look can suit background areas that need extra glow, including icon embroidery.

Metallic seed beads (Metallic)

Metallic seed beads combine an opaque colour with a pronounced metallic lustre. Because they stand out strongly, use them sparingly—for metallic elements in a motif or to accent a particular colour.

Color-lined seed beads (Inside Color)

Color-lined seed beads can be smooth or faceted, round or square, but have a coloured inner core. They can create shadows and folds and work well in backgrounds or secondary details.

Matte seed beads (Matt)

Matte seed beads are usually coloured throughout, though some have a neutral interior. Their lack of shine creates a crisp outline; placing translucent beads nearby can soften the contrast.

Silk-finish seed beads (Silk)

Silk-finish seed beads are opaque with a soft, satin-like sheen rather than a glossy finish. This category is associated with cool, wintery shades and can be used for main details or outlines.

Seed beads, beading needles, thread cuttings, and embroidery scissors are small or sharp. Work on a stable surface and store them in a closed container, out of reach of young children and pets.