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Macrame Beads

Macrame beads come in all shapes and sizes, and are very common, particularly in jewelry. But many are not suitable, due to the fact they have small openings in them. In some patterns, the holes in the beads need to be large enough for at least two strands to pass through. For example, if the cord is 4mm thick, the opening would need to be 8mm in diameter, which is a pretty large bead.

Types of Beads

I will now discuss the various types of Beads in terms of suitability for Macrame projects.

Beads for Macrame are specifically designed with larger holes to accommodate the thicker cords (6mm – 12mm). They are usually made from wood or ceramic materials, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. But they are hard to find nowadays, and usually cost more than small beads.

Metal Beads sometimes have large holes suitable for Macrame projects using 2mm to 4mm cord. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. You can obtain gold plated, silver plated, and brass metal beads at any store that carries beading supplies. Precious metal beads are more expensive. The one shown is made from brass, and has a filigree design.

Cloisonne Beads are metal, and usually have a colorful design. They are very popular, and well known for their quality. They have an "Oriental" feel and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The holes are usually small, but can be enlarged somewhat.

Glass Beads are very attractive, and on occasion you can find them with holes large enough for 2mm cords to pass through. You might be better off choosing metal or wood for your Macrame beads, since glass beads with holes large enough for 4mm or 6mm cords are very hard to find.

Pandora Style Glass Beads have become very popular. They have a silver or gold lining inside the hole. They usually have 4mm to 5mm size holes, so are a great choice to use as Macrame Beads.

Plastic Beads are likely to have big enough holes for 2mm to 4mm cords. They are easy to obtain, and are inexpensive compared to other beads. Metallized Beads are plastic, but have a metal coating, and are often quite unique.

Clay Beads have great details and many are shaped like three-dimensional objects, like this flower. The holes are usually small, but can be enlarged if necessary.

Cord Beads are very interesting.. They are made from loops of cords wrapped around a base, usually plastic. They have fairly large openings. Crochet beads are also a type of cord bead, and they are definitely unique and attractive. They are usually wood beads covered by the crochet design.

Gemstone Beads usually have small holes, so are more suited to Micro-Macrame. They are often more expensive than beads made from other materials.

Rubber Beads are intriguing, and made of recycled car tires. Surprisingly, they are soft, and comfortable against the skin. They would be popular with teens and children. They have small holes, so are suitable for Micro-Macrame jewelry.

Lampwork Beads are also unique because they have raised areas. These handmade beads are easy to find, and often have holes large enough for 2mm cords.

Ceramic Beads are very sophisticated and highly detailed. These Macrame beads come in many unique shapes and designs, and are great for jewelry and clothing projects requiring the use of 2mm to 4mm cord.

Mood Beads are very unique in that they are made of a material that changes color. Your body heat will cause these interesting beads to change between several colors. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most have holes suitable for 2mm or finer cords.

Shell and Bone Beads usually have small holes, and are made from natural materials. They come in few colors, however. Shell beads are also easily damaged. I’ve tried to enlarge the holes in them with very little success.

Seeds come from a variety of plants, and are often used to make beads. This is a Rudraksha seed, and like wood Macrame beads, the hole can be enlarged if necessary.

Wood Beads are very suited to Macrame, and many designs have large holes. They come in several colors and shapes. Some are carved, and quite interesting.

Wood beads are among the best Macrame Beads available, because the holes can be enlarged if necessary.

Buttons can be used instead of Macrame beads. Beaded buttons, in particular, are a favorite of mine. I use them for clasps, as pendants, and as a substitute for beads.

Ask your mother or grandmother if she has a stash of them somewhere. You’ll be amazed at what you will find in her "button box".

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Bead Shapes

I will now talk about the different shapes. Some are more likely to have large holes than others.

Drop Beads are designed with the hole running horizontally so that the bead dangles below the cord. Some drops are teardrop shaped, but many are not. The standard teardrop styles usually have small holes, but you can often find some with holes large enough for 2mm to 4mm cord.

Pendants are similar to Charms, only larger. They are designed with a loop that is often big enough for several cords to pass through. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Like Drop Beads, they dangle below the cords.

“E” Beads are a type of seed bead, and are pretty much limited to Micro-Macrame projects. Most cords above 2mm do not fit through them. They come in many colors, are very inexpensive, and easy to obtain.

Crow Rollers are circular, and make great Macrame Beads. They are made from a variety of materials, and come in several sizes. I use them regularly, as they are the best beads I've dealt with. They show up really well, even in complex patterns. Most have holes large enough for 2mm - 4mm cord.

Disk Beads have a flattened shape, and usually have very small holes. The narrow profile has a tendency to cause these beads to get lost in the pattern. They are only suitable for Macrame if you can find large ones (>20mm).

Diamonds, also called Bicones, are hard to find with large holes, unless they are very large. They can be used in Micro-Macrame, of course, but you will be hard pressed to find ones suitable for larger cords. They are usually made of glass, metal, wood, or plastic.

Rings, Donuts, and Hoops sometimes have holes large enough for Macrame cord 2mm - 4mm. They come in many sizes, and are a good choice if you are using slender cord material. I've seen these shapes in glass, ceramic, metal, plastic, and wood materials.

Round Beads, particularly if made from metal or glass, sometimes have holes suitable for Macrame cords 2mm to 4mm. Large round beads (>20mm) have bigger holes that the thicker cords can pass through.

Tube Beads are the best Macrame beads around. They show themselves quite well in the overall pattern. They come in many different sizes, and are made from a variety of materials. Drum Beads are very similar, but are short and squat.

Curly-Q Beads are actually a type of Lampwork bead. They don't have any holes at all. Instead,the cord passes through the coils. So they are definitely suitable for Macrame designs using 2mm to 4mm size materials.

Triangles and Cubes are very unique. I really like them because you don’t see them used very often. They are easy to obtain, and some have holes large enough for 2mm to 4mm cord. They come in many sizes, materials, and colors.

Figure Beads are interesting, but usually have small holes. The shapes these beads come in are extensive. Animals, flowers, hearts, and stars, are just a few of the many shapes available. They are more suited to Micro-Macrame, but sometimes you can find large ones suitable for regular Macrame projects.

Beading Techniques

There are only two beading techniques you need to know to work with Macrame Beads: Threading cords through the beads, and securing them so they don’t fall off.

Using a Wire is probably the easiest way to attach beads. You cut a small piece, make a loop, and feed the ends through the bead. Then you insert the cords into the loop, and pull the ends. The entire wire as well as the cord will go through the opening in the bead.

Beading Needles are another option. You feed the end of the cord through the hole in the needle. Then you pass the needle through the Macrame beads. The down side is that it can be difficult to thread the needle.

Attaching the beads by hand is another possibility. Sometimes it’s just easier to poke the end of the cord through the bead hole. If you prefer to use this technique, a magnifying glass works wonders.

Securing Macrame beads to the overall pattern is pretty simple. If there are knots around the beads, there is no need to secure them. The knots hold them in place. If not, then tying a Barrel Knot above and/or below the bead should suffice. If the bead is being used as part of a clasp, follow the instructions below.

Technique #1: Thread the cord through the hole in the bead. Make a tight Barrel Knot, and pass it back through the hole. If the hole is large enough for the knot to slip through, tie a different type of knot, such as a Button Knot. Cut the remainder of the cord close to the Macrame bead and apply a small amount of glue inside the opening, if possible.

Technique #2: If the hole is too small to accommodate two cords, cut the remainder close to the knot. Then apply glue so it won’t come loose.

BEAD PATTERNS FOR EVERYONE

This eBook covers absolutely everything you need to know to make wonderful bead creatures - even if you have no previous experience!

Once you learn the basic simple beading techniques, you will be shocked at how easy it is to create beautiful animals, flowers and jewelry.

Have any comments or suggestions about Macrame Beads? Contact Me.

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