Some find seed beading quite a daunting task. They find it so difficult because of the size of the seed beads. These special kind of beads are very tiny. So small are they that sometimes they can be less than 0.5 mm. They are available in different colours and due to such pretty colours and such tiny bodies, these seed beads look very nice and petite.
Seed beads are available in the range of size 2 (which is the largest) to size 22 (which is the tiniest, almost invisible). Most often they are made of glass. Coloured glass tubes are finely cut into small even shapes with high precision, which when cools down, takes the shape of beads. Seed beads are not measured in inches or millimetres. They are measured in aughts. Therefore, for beads of the size 8 / 0, they would be referred as 8 aughts. An 8 aught seed bead would be around 3mm in diameter and usually 2 mm thick.
If you are a beginner with seed beads, and you find it too challenging to start with tiny seed beads, you can then begin by making small objects with less bead work and with a beads of 11 aught. The 11 aught seed beads are the most widely used and asked for. When you start with seed beads for the first time, it is advised that you go for less complicated objects like simple necklaces and bracelets and then eventually graduate to more complicated things like purses.
If you want to purchase seed beads, a good place to look for seed beads is the internet. There are a few good web sites that provide all the well known brands of - brands that are from Czechoslovakia and Japan - they are famous for good quality seed beads. You can find them all on the internet.
