Brick Stitch Bead Count Calculator
Calculate bead count for brick stitch from project dimensions and bead size.
Returns row counts and thread length estimate for earrings, pendants, and cuffs.
Brick stitch (also called Comanche stitch or Cheyenne stitch) is an off-loom beading technique where beads are stacked like bricks in a wall, each row offset by half a bead. It is one of the most versatile stitches for shaped beadwork, earrings, and decorative elements.
Bead Count for Rectangular Brick Stitch
Total Beads = Rows × Beads per Row
For a rectangle, every row has the same count. For shaped pieces (triangles, diamonds, increasing/decreasing patterns), you must calculate each row individually.
Common Brick Stitch Shapes
| Shape | Row Pattern | Total Beads Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangle | All rows equal (N) | Rows × N |
| Triangle (increase) | 1, 2, 3, … N | N × (N+1) / 2 |
| Triangle (decrease) | N, N-1, … 1 | N × (N+1) / 2 |
| Diamond | 1,2,…N,…2,1 | N² (center row = N) |
| Earring (triangle + fringe) | 1,2,…N + fringe rows | Sum of rows + fringe beads |
Bead Sizes and Dimensions
Seed bead sizes use an inverse scale, so larger numbers mean smaller beads:
| Size | Width (mm) | Height (mm) | Beads per Inch (width) | Beads per Inch (height) | Beads per gram |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/0 | 1.3 mm | 1.0 mm | 20 | 25 | 290 |
| Delica 11/0 | 1.6 mm | 1.3 mm | 16 | 20 | 190 |
| 11/0 seed | 1.8 mm | 1.4 mm | 14 | 18 | 110 |
| 8/0 | 2.5 mm | 2.0 mm | 10 | 13 | 38 |
| 6/0 | 3.3 mm | 2.5 mm | 8 | 10 | 15 |
Delica beads (Miyuki brand) are cylindrical and fit together more uniformly than round seed beads, making them the preferred choice for brick stitch. They are also lighter than a round 11/0, which is why 190 of them make a gram against 110 round seed beads.
Worked Example, Diamond-Shaped Earring with Delica 11/0
Center row (widest): 10 beads. Row pattern: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Total beads: 10² = 100 beads per earring, 200 for a pair.
Physical size: 10 beads × 1.6 mm = 16 mm wide (about ⅝ inch). Height: 19 rows × 1.3 mm = 24.7 mm tall (about 1 inch). Weight: 100 ÷ 190 = about half a gram, so a pair is barely 1 g. Earrings this size are light enough that the ear wire outweighs the beadwork.
Thread Estimation
Thread consumption follows the bead height, not some fixed length per bead. In brick stitch the thread goes up through a bead, under the loop of the row below, and back down, which works out at about 2.5 times the bead height per bead. That is the same multiplier our thread length calculator uses, so the two pages agree.
Thread needed = Total beads × bead height × 2.5, plus 20% for tails, restarts and finishing.
For the 100-bead earring above: 100 × 1.3 mm × 2.5 = 325 mm, plus 20% = 390 mm, about 15 inches. Cut a comfortable working length of 1 to 1.5 m anyway. You will not use most of it on one earring, but joining a new thread mid-piece is far more annoying than trimming a tail.
If you have seen a figure like “6 inches of thread per bead” quoted for brick stitch, check what it is measuring. That works out at 50 feet for a single small earring, which is roughly thirty times what the stitch actually consumes.
Thread Types for Brick Stitch
| Thread | Diameter | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Nymo B | 0.20 mm | 11/0 and larger, general use |
| Nymo D | 0.30 mm | 8/0 and larger, structural pieces |
| FireLine 4 lb | 0.13 mm | 15/0 and 11/0, strong and stiff |
| FireLine 6 lb | 0.15 mm | 11/0 and larger, extra strength |
| KO Thread | 0.25 mm | All-purpose, easy to handle |
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This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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