Cylinder beads

Cylinder beads are a style of seed bead cut into a short, straight tube rather than the slightly rounded shape of standard seed beads. That flat-sided shape lets them pack together tightly with almost no gaps between rows, which is why they are the standard choice for detailed peyote and loom patterns, bead embroidery bezels, and pixelated designs.

The precise, repeatable shape is what makes cylinder beads different from ordinary seed beads of the same aught size. Thin, even walls also mean a large, consistent hole relative to the bead's size, so thread can pass through it multiple times without the bead splitting or the pattern bulking up unevenly.

When buying, look for name-brand cylinder beads, since off-brand versions can vary more in wall thickness and hole size, which shows up as gaps in a finished piece. A common mistake is substituting regular round seed beads into a pattern designed for cylinder beads. The result technically fits, but the rows look uneven and gappy instead of smooth.