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Delica Beads
Beautiful little bits of the rainbow come in almost as many colors! Uniformity and a large hole relative to the size of the bead make Delica the bead of choice for peyote/gourd stitch, brick stitch, and loom weaving. The large hole allows many passes of thread, essential in sculptural peyote. Their precise cut means virtually no culling of bad beads. They are made in Japan by Miyuki Shoji and come in two sizes: 11/o and 8/o. Unless referring to the size 8/o, when mentioning the word 'Delica', one automatically thinks of the smaller size 11/o.
Useful information regarding size 11/o, which we currently carry:
1 inch linear = 20 beads strung
1 square inch = 15 rows high x 20 beads wide (loom woven or square stitch)
1 square inch = 29 rows high x 20 beads wide (peyote stitch)
1 square inch = 20 rows high x 29 beads wide (brick stitch)
Note: These stitches are all in the off-loom-woven category.
One gram of Delicas has approximately 200 beads. Bear in mind that coatings or linings make the bead heavier, so the actual count may be less.
Quick calculation:
Loom weaving or square stitch = 300 beads per square inch (about 1.5 grams)
Peyote stitch or brick stitch = 580 beads per square inch (about 3 grams)
Tip: Since one does not need to pierce fabric when weaving beads, there is no need for a point on the needle, which can split the thread during the needle's many passes through the Delicas. A tapestry-point beading needle is perfect for this task. (See NOTIONS page for these needles.)