Miyuki Delicas vs. Miyuki Seed Beads: What's the Difference?

Miyuki is one of the world's most respected bead manufacturers, known for their high quality, consistent beads. If you've been beading for some time, you'll know how frustrating it is having to sort through your beads and cull the ones that are too thin or a bit wonky! 

Two of Miyuki's most popular beads are the Delica and Seed shapes. In this blog, we'll explore some of the key differences. 

Miyuki Delicas

Miyuki Delica beads are distinctive for their uniform, cylindrical shape. These beads are manufactured with remarkable consistency, giving them several advantages:

• Perfect alignment: Their cylinder shape allows them to sit perfectly next to each other without gaps
• Uniform size: Each bead is virtually identical in size (typically 1.6mm x 1.3mm for size 11/0)
• Clean holes: The holes are centred and consistent, making stringing easier
• Flat edges: Creates smoother, more fabric-like beadwork

These characteristics make Delicas particularly well-suited for techniques like peyote stitch, brick stitch, and loom work where precision matters.

Click here to explore our wide range of Delica beads.

Miyuki Seed Beads

Miyuki Seed beads (also known as round rocailles), on the other hand, have a more rounded, slightly doughnut shape. Their characteristics include:

• Traditional rounded form: More versatile for various beading techniques
• Slight size variation: Minor differences between individual beads
• Wide colour range: Extensive palette of finishes and colours

Seed beads are great for embroidery, fringe work and stringing, where their slight variations create interesting texture.

Click here to see our Miyuki Seed bead collection.

Which Should You Choose?

The choice between Delicas and Seed beads often comes down to your specific project:

• Choose Delicas for: projects requiring precision, flat beadwork, and consistent patterns
• Choose Seed beads for: projects where organic texture is desirable, embroidery, and traditional beadwork
• Combine them! some beaders come up with stunning creative projects combining the two, don't be afraid to experiment!

Regardless of which type you choose, Miyuki's reputation for quality means you're getting beads with consistent colour, reliable sizing, and smooth holes that won't damage your thread.

Whether you're creating intricate jewellery or decorative art pieces, understanding the unique qualities of these two bead types will help you achieve the best results in your next beading project.