Beads come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. Sizes can range from 8^o to 25^o ( ^o is pronounced "aught"). The larger the number, the smaller the bead size. In this age of technology you can get any color or hue of the spectrum, especially in the smaller sizes. This can be useful in larger projects or where you would like the color change to be subtle. Smaller beads allow you to go into more detail in your designs.

Beads come in various types and shapes. Bugle beads are cylindrical in shape and range from 3/8 of an inch long to 2 inches. These beads are very useful for brick-laying stitches, fringes, and a variety of other stitches. Seed beads come in many different varieties. As the name implies they are round like most seeds and some are actually made by drilling a hole through a seed. Nowadays, they are made of many different materials, but usually out of glass. These are just two of the more common types of bead.

Make sure you buy enough beads to finish the project that you are working on. Just like yarn and thread, the dye lots change to varying degrees and the shade of blue you bought one week may not be the same the next time you go. How many is enough? When you buy beads, buy two or three hanks of the same color. A hank has 8 to 12 strands on it. A strand is a single string of beads, 12 to 24 inches long. The number of beads per inch on a strand will vary depending on the size of the beads. Never buy beads in tubes if you can help it. Tubes cost more and have fewer beads than a full hank. If you do run short of a color, string up the color you need and take it with you when making the rounds to the different bead shops. Sometimes you will get lucky.