Every Miyuki bead has a reference number that uniquely identifies its color and finish. When you look at one of my patterns, you'll see entries like "#137 — light orange", that's a Miyuki ref.
How to read a Miyuki reference
The number (e.g., 137) identifies the color and finish
The size is separate, I almost always use 11/0 (round rocailles)
The shape is also separate, I use rocailles (round), not Delicas (cylindrical). The shapes work very differently, and my patterns are usually designed for round rocailles.
Most-used refs across my patterns
These are the workhorses you'll reach for most often. Bookmark this list, it's a solid starter set:
Ref | Color | What I use it for |
#401 | black | Outlines, eyes, definition in almost every pattern |
#528 | white | Highlights, eye whites, light shading |
#131 | transparent | Base for the Bumblebee |
#131f | frosted white | Base for the Ghost |
#137 | light orange / yellow | Base across many patterns |
#139 | dark orange | Accents, especially the Mallard duck |
#136 | yellow | Bumblebee, Rainbow Fish, Blue Tang |
#140 | red | Fire Spirit, Straw Hat |
#143 | light green | Frog + several fish add-ons |
#146 | dark green | Frog shading, Yellow Perch |
#265 | light pink | Confetti Fish (pink) |
#1308 | pink | Confetti Fish, Flower Fish, Lovely Fish |
Where to find them
I order most of my beads at Perles & Co. For harder-to-find colors, try pandahall.com or your local craft store 🌸