Guide to weaving tips according to the number of Miyuki beads

How do I choose the right tip size for the number of Miyuki beads?

Weaving end caps allow you to neatly finish a woven piece and turn it into jewelry, particularly a bracelet. However, it’s important to choose the right size based on the type of weaving you’ve done. This guide will help you make the right choice and adjust your work if necessary.

Tube Weaving End Caps: For Which Types of Weaving?

Weaving end caps can be used for various techniques:

• Loom weaving, where the beads are aligned in both directions and fit naturally into the end cap.
• Peyote stitch or brick stitch, which aren’t initially designed to be secured in a tube end cap but can be adapted by adding extra beads at the end of the weaving so they can be slipped into the tube end cap. Find the steps to adapt these weaving techniques for weaving tubes here: Adding Beads to a Peyote Weave to Attach Tubular End Caps.
• You can use these end caps for other types of weaving as long as the beads can pass through the tubes and nothing blocks the passage. This is generally the case with flat herringbone weaving.

Mocha Mousse Bracelet Made on a Weaving Loom

Peyote Stitch Bracelet

Correlation Between Weave Width and End Cap Size

The values below are provided for reference only. Generally, a Miyuki Delica 11/0 bead is 1.3 mm tall. Several factors can affect the width of the weave:

• Bead finish: Some beads have a coating that makes them slightly thicker.
• When weaving on a loom, threads are placed between the beads, which increases the width of the weave. The thicker the thread placed between the beads, the more the width increases proportionally.

In any case, it’s better to choose a bead cap that’s slightly smaller than the weave than one that’s too large. Whether weaving on a loom or using a needle, it is possible to decrease the number of beads on both sides of the bracelet, thereby adapting it to a smaller end cap.

The measurements listed in the guide are for reference only, as several factors can affect the width of a weave: the finish of the beads, the thickness of the thread used, and the tension of the weave. A looser weave may result in a width slightly narrower than expected.

What if the desired end cap size isn’t available?

It’s possible that the width of your weave doesn’t exactly match the available end cap sizes. In that case, it’s best to choose a smaller end cap and slightly reduce the width of your weaving by gradually tapering the first and last rows. This will ensure a secure fit and a neat finish. Here’s a video showing how to taper on a loom:

Sun Bracelet on a Loom