Handy 2-Hole Shaped Beads Guide

For the Love of Crescents, and Other 2-Hole Shaped Beads

Making decisions is hard. With so many 2-hole shaped beads available, choosing which one to try next can be a challenge. We’ve been privileged to watch as, every time a new shape is released, our readers innovate and find surprising, beautiful ways to use them. A certain shape may lend itself well to a particular motif or aesthetic, so we’ve selected some of our favorite projects that demonstrate what some of our favorite shaped beads can do. We especially love the pretty yet super-functional crescent bead. See below for pictures from the new ebook, 6 Beading Projects to Make with Crescent Beads and check out some of our available kits!

Crescents are a natural choice when working with floral motifs. The antiqued gold crescents of the Carousel Bracelet form the outline of the flowers and immediately catch the eye. Get all the materials to make this super wearable bracelet in the Carousel Bracelet Kit!

In the Camellia Bracelet, the delicate curvature of the crescents provide a petal-like femininity that adds subtle elegance to the design. Make the piece yourself with the Camellia Bracelet Kit!

6 Beading Projects to Make with Crescent Beads

The projects in this eBook celebrate all there is to love about the crescent bead: its versatility, gentle shape, and ability to either define the aesthetic of a design or play a structure-building role.

The Crescendo Bracelet is a stunning example of how both the convex and concave side of the crescent can be used.

Use circular peyote stitch to weave crescent beads and crystal chaton montées into the luminescent, shimmering circular components of the Aurora Skies bracelet.

The unique Whirligig Bracelet is comprised of cubic–right-angle-weave units and sections of spherical tubular herringbone stitch.

 More About 2-Hole Shaped Beads

Crescents have a 10x4x1mm melon-wedge shape and two parallel holes that run from each flat side.

Crescent Beads

Other 2-Hole Shaped Beads:

1. Half Moon Beads, measuring 8x4x3mm, have a half-circle shape with round edges and two holes set 4mm apart running from front to back.
2. Two-Hole Lentils are 6x3mm puffed disc-shaped beads with two parallel holes running from front to back.
3. Infinity Beads, two-hole beads shaped like the infinity symbol, are available in sizes 4x8x2.7mm and 3x6x2.3mm.

Half Moon Beads	Two-Hole Lentils	Infinity Beads

Mini Medallions Bracelet and Earrings

SuperDuos + Antique-Inspired

SuperDuos have a soft, classic shape that makes them extremely versatile, but we’ve found that they are particularly lovely in antique-inspired designs. They also play well with other beads, nestling nicely into crevices and for that rich, layered look.

The Mini Medallions Bracelet and Earrings set is the perfect quick and easy project to get you on your way with SuperDuos. Get the kit here!

SuperDuos, like Twins, are 5×2.5mm, but they have more tapered ends.

SuperDuos

Other 2-Hole Seed and Cylinder Beads

1. Twins are 5×2.5mm and have a hole at each tapered end.
2. MiniDuos are smaller 4x2mm replicas of SuperDuos.
3. Bi-bo beads are 5.5×2.8mm and have an hourglass shape that cradles other beads. (photo: Bi Bo.jpg)
4. Rullas are 5x3x3mm cylindrical beads with holes that are 1.5mm apart.

Twins	MiniDuos	Bi-Bo Beads	Rulla

This is just a sampling of the 2-hole shaped beads available. We encourage you to experiment and find a few favorites. They’re  a great way to add dimension and texture to your beadwork without the need for complicated stitches and thread paths, though you can certainly stitch CRAW with SuperDuos, for instance. And, when it comes to making beautiful things, the more options the better! Any thoughts on designing and stitching with shaped beads? Let us know!

Andrea Hoyt Assistant Editor Beadwork

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