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
Seed Beads
These 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.
Cylinder Beads
Cylinder beads are a variety of seed beads that have a uniform tube shape with straight sides and large holes.
Smooth Bugle Beads
These 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.
Hex and Twisted Hex Bugle Beads
These are just like smooth bugle beads but are cut on the sides and also may come in a twisted variety.
Faceted Beads
These are beads that are cut to produce multiple flat faces that create a sparkling effect. Faceted beads are often made of glass
Costume Pearls
Also 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 pearl
Crystal Chatons
These 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.
Sew-on Flat Back Rhinestones
These 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.
Hot Fix Crystals
They 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.
Stones with Catcher
Stones 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, etc
Rhinestone Chains
It’s basically glass or acrylic rhinestones put in a chain of metal holders