Everything Delica ....

Delicas are wonderful beads available in over 1,200 fabulous colours. This is our page dedicated to these versatile little beauties - first of all there a whole host of technique downloads - from how to choose your thread, to basic stitch instructions.

Many of our Spellbound kits include Delica beads in them, and you can also find lots of video tutorials using Delica beads on our YouTube channel.

About Delicas

Delicas ™ are precisely manufactured beads, tubular in shape, with a generous hole size in proportion to the overall bead. They are ideal for woven projects because the beads are all the same size and shape, the colour range is extensive and allows for much creativity in design, and also the generous hole allows several threads to be passed through each bead in the weaving process. Delicas equate roughly to a size 12 seed bead although they are often referred to in patterns as a 'Delica 11'.

Durability

Originally manufactured for the creation of beaded pictures used in wall decoration in Japan, to create the desired breadth of colours in the range some of the bead colours are dyed and these colours may come off through rubbing or exposure to light. A comprehensive guide to the durability of the delicas can be found on the Miyuki website.

Downloads

The following are links to free pdf downloads which include basic stitch instructions, info on Delica and other types of seed beads, and free design grids for you to design your own patterns.

Seed Beads - A general overview of seed beads, bugles and delicas.  Includes information on the differences between the types of beads, the different colour finishes and general information on using these beads.  A good overview of these different bead types that gives useful back ground information to help you when choosing beads for a project.

Beadwork Basics - A simple guide to the basic techniques you use when weaving or stringing with small beads and a needle and thread.

Peyote Stitch - A popular and versatile stitch that enables the beader to produce a piece with a woven effect without the use of a bead loom.

Brick Stitch - Brick Stitch is another one of the foundation stones for woven beadwork. 

Square Stitch - one of the stitches you could use to create the magnificent Dragon Necklace.  An easy stitch to learn, and one with great potential.

Herringbone Stitch - includes Tubular Herringbone which makes beautiful, sinuous strands for necklaces and bracelets

St Petersburg Chain - a really easy stitch that creates a beautiful flat curve.  This is a straightforward technique, especially if you are familiar with Square Stitch.

Design Grids

Download these grids and start designing your own Delica beadwork.

Peyote Stitch Grid      Brick Stitch Grid     Square Stitch Grid

Peyote Stitch Projects - We start with two beautiful peyote stitch bracelets.  Both use three colours of delica beads to create differing effects and we have project packs available in a number of colourways, all of which contain sufficient beads and thread to make two bracelets in the pictured design.  If you have not worked in Peyote Stitch before you will first need to work through the technique sheet that covers all of the basics of working in this lovely stitch.

The Summer Lawn Bracelet (above left) in the easier of the two bracelets and is a good design to start using this technique on.  The Jacquard Bracelet (above right), is a more complex design is better suited to someone with a bit of experience in the stitch.
This beautiful Delica Mat is made in Brick Stitch - this is based around the central six diamond star but you can see that mats can be created in any of the many formations that multiples of the basic diamond shapes can create.