| Rocailles (Seed Beads)
Rocailles (pronounced rock-i), also called seed beads, are one of the useful foundations of any beaders collection. The sizes of the beads refer to the approximate number of beads to the inch - eg eight size 8/0 beads would string to approximately one inch in length; and so the smaller the bead size number the larger the bead. Our rocailles come from two countries, the Czech Republic and Japan. Czech rocailles tend to be much rounder in shape and create a more textural finish in use - these beads work particularly well on straight stringing projects, swags and tassels and all types of netted and lacework patterns as their shape allows the work to flex and the design will lie beautifully. These beads are also found in native American beadwork and African designs. Japanese rocailles are more tubular in shape. This straighter sided shape makes these beads ideal for closely woven patterns as they sit up closely together like bricks in a wall. Japanese rocailles have slightly larger holes than the same size Czech rocailles.
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