Meet the New Chexx Bead from York Beads

Chexx bracelet designed by Christina Neit, Beadwork magazine Designer of the Year

If you're looking to keep up with the newest bead shapes coming soon to a bead shop near you, York Beads has introduced the new Chexx two-hole bead to the world. Chexx beads are a 6mm square, about 3mm thick, with two holes positioned in the 6mm face of the bead. They've been introduced in a wide range of popular Czech bead colors and finishes, including magic, sliperit, picasso, metallic, and lumi.

Perry at York Beads was kind enough to send me a generous sample of these new glass beads, and I immediately envisioned using them for sturdy but delicate beaded chains. My first attempt at making a simple design with them resulted in this pendant made using beaded netting, combining the new Chexx beads with my favorite 3mm round glass druks and bronze metallic Czech seed beads.

The bead holes on these new glass beads are most definitely large enough for 3 or 4 passes of needle and thread. I used 6 lb. Fireline and a size 12 Tulip needle and had no problems making multiple passes using beaded netting for the pendant and a variation of beaded netting for the chain.

These fun little glass beads should be popping up in bead shops near you, or you can check out all the lovely colors available from A Grain of Sand. For a limited time, customers who place an order for Chexx beads from York Beads will get a free copy of a beading pattern using the Chexx beads, designed by Mikki Ferugiarro. 

Stay tuned to Beading Daily for instructions to make the pendant and chain pictured at right in this blog!