What Are Bugle Beads
Bugle beads belong to a group of beads called seed beads that are usually used as spacers between other beads in the jewelry you are making. Bugle beads are cylindrical glass or metal tubes that vary in sizes and color, quality, and country in origin. It is important to note that when you are planning to use bugle beads for your jewelry making, you need to look at a few factors.
One is consistency in length. More than the design itself, you should be able to gather and examine same length bugle beads to hasten your jewelry making. Otherwise, you will have to scramble through hundreds of bugle beads to find matching sizes.
Another is color and its grain, be it matte, transparent, metallic, opaque, and silver-lined bugle beads. Depending on your customer’s preference, you should know how to mix and match these bugle beads pieces into making a dazzling jewelry piece of art.
You should also keep in mind that there are different shapes as well including round, twisted, and hex or hexagon like a shape of a diamond. And finally, take into consideration smooth round ended edges to prevent beading threads from cutting off with the knife-like edges of bugle beads.
Why Are They Named Bugle Beads
Because it is cylindrical and conical in shape that resembles that of a bugle as a musical instrument, thus bugle beads came about. It is facetted with round, twisted, and hex body but still it is tube like and long in most cases.
Bugle beads are the easiest to thread when it comes to beading with its straight and long shape, it can also be an adornment to a bodice in a wedding gown that sparkles when being highlighted.
Designs And Techniques In Making Bugle Beads Jewelry
You can do almost anything with bugle beads, from personal accessories to home decors, or clothes accentuation especially in gowns. However, the most widely used design for bugle beads is through transforming it into beautiful jewelry pieces. It can range from neckpieces, bracelets, earrings, brooches, and rings. Name it and bugle beads can fit in to your heart’s content!
But one of the things that artisan seem to find a hard way to thread these beads are the sharp edges that comes out when these bugle beads are being cut to shorter lengths. Others make an initiative to put a clear nail polish just about the edges or file it maybe. But the beast thing to eliminate if not lessen the head ache of trying to thread it smoothly is putting spacers or seed beads in between the bugle beads.
The jewelry piece will come out even more beautiful with its glitters and sparks dancing with the lights. Such a dreamy scene needs more creativity and style in you. Bugle beads are inexpensive but a multifaceted bead you can use for your next jewelry making ventures.
And in any form of art, a little imagination will take you places. You just need to have that drive in your heart to produce bead jewelry masterpieces to display to your customers. So get that bugle bead going and create the best bugle bead neckpiece in the world!
Hi,
I pine for bugle beads of 10 mm or more in length that one can order with the assurance that they will have
VERY SMOOTH EDGES!! You mention the desirability of bugle beads having smooth edges in your article here – but how/where do you get them???
My local bead store does not have them, so I order them online.
(I find that the ordinary bugle bead irritates my skin by poking into it throughout the day.)
Thanks so much
Wendalore/Judy