Miyuki Delica Beads are cylinder shaped Japanese glass seed beads. Delica beads were first created by Miyuki in 1982 as a modern replacement for antique French metal 3-cut "steel cut" beads. They are now available in four sizes – 15/0, 11/0, 10/0 and 8/0. There are at least one thousand colors available in the most popular 11/0 size, and each year Miyuki develops more colors and finishes.
Delicas are preferred for peyote stitch, brick stitch, and weaving on looms because their cylinder shape gives the finished piece a flat surface which maximizes any design or pattern. Their exceptional uniformity of size and shape create tiny rectangles which lock together to present an unbroken surface. Bead artists have used them to create detailed portraits and sculptures with each bead acting as a single pixel of color.
Delica Beads also have a proportionally thin wall and large hole for their size which allows more threads to pass through the woven work. As every beader knows, this gives you more room for invention as well as being helpful for correcting mistakes or securing the finished ends. We recommend Delicas (especially the largest 8/0 size) as perfect for beginners learning peyote or brick stitch, since it is easy to see when you make a mistake.
At Beadazzle, we carry the top 200 colours of Delica Beads but can order any colour that you require from the newest Duracoat Dyed and Galvanized colors which last longer than the previous versions, to the Luminous Neon and Silk Lined colors, we have most of the shades and sizes you may be looking for.
Delicas are also available in a hexagonal cut version, with six faceted sides cut into the outside of the cylinder. Cut Delicas are available in all four sizes – 8/0, 10/0, 11/0 and 15/0 but in a smaller range of colors than their standard counterparts.
