Bead Pattern Maker
Draw your own design on a blank pegboard grid. Pick colours, paint beads one by one, use fill and mirror, then download a chart with bead counts. It works with a mouse, a trackpad or a finger.
Pattern size
Changing the size keeps what you have drawn at the top-left. Undo brings it back.
Start
Open a saved pattern (.json)
More colours
Right-click erases with a mouse. Choose “Scroll” to move around a big pattern on a touch screen.
Colours and bead counts
| Colour | Name | Hex | Beads | Share |
|---|
Counts are exact for the pattern shown. Buy about 10% extra of each colour for lost and misshapen beads.
🔒 Runs in your browser — your pictures and patterns are not uploaded or stored. Last reviewed: October 2026.
How to use the Bead Pattern Maker
- Choose a size. 29 × 29 matches a large square pegboard; the list also offers other common sizes, or type your own width and height (up to 100).
- Pick a colour from the row under the tools. More colours shows the rest of the 48-colour set, and the colour picker adds any colour of your own.
- Paint with the Pencil — drag to draw lines. Fill replaces a whole area of one colour, Pick copies a colour from the grid and Erase removes beads (right-click erases with a mouse).
- Turn on Mirror strokes for symmetrical designs such as hearts, flowers and faces. Undo and Redo are always available.
- Download the PNG chart or the bead list, or print the pattern. Save pattern (.json) keeps your work so you can open it here again later.
Tools at a glance
| Tool | What it does | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Pencil | Places one bead; drag to draw a line | Fast strokes are joined into unbroken lines |
| Fill | Recolours a whole connected area | Great for backgrounds; undo if it floods too much |
| Pick | Copies the colour of a bead you tap | Use it to match a colour you placed earlier |
| Erase | Removes beads | Right-click with a mouse also erases |
| Scroll | Lets a finger scroll the page and the grid | Use on touch screens with big patterns |
| Mirror | Paints mirrored copies of each stroke | Left–right for faces, both for flowers |
Designing for beads
- Start with the outline. A one-bead outline in a dark colour keeps a small design readable.
- Use two or three shades per object. One light, one mid and one dark gives shape without a huge colour list.
- Plan the size first. A 29 × 29 design suits one large square board; bigger designs need several boards, so mark board edges with the Board size setting.
- Keep symmetry simple. Mirror strokes halve the work for hearts, stars, faces and flowers.
- Check contrast. Neighbouring colours that look different on screen are easier to place correctly than near-identical shades.
Rather draw from a picture? Start with the bead pattern generator, then save the project and open it here to tidy up details.
Saving, reopening and sharing
Nothing is saved automatically and nothing is uploaded, so use Save pattern (.json) before you close the page. Open the file again with the box under Open a saved pattern. The same file opens in the bead calculator to produce a shopping list, and project files from the generator open here.
To share a design, download the PNG chart: it includes the pattern, the numbered colour list and the bead counts.
Using the pattern on a real pegboard
Place beads row by row from the top, checking each colour against the legend. For designs larger than one board, set Board size to 29 (or the size of your boards) so the heavy borders show where each board starts. Print the chart at full size with the printable grid generator if you prefer to work from paper, and follow the ironing guide when the design is ready.
Frequently asked questions
Does my design save automatically?
No. Nothing is stored in your browser or on a server. Press “Save pattern (.json)” to keep your work and open the file here again whenever you like.
How large can a pattern be?
Up to 100 × 100 beads, which is about 50 × 50 cm with standard 5 mm beads.
Can I import a photo?
Use the bead pattern generator to turn a photo into a pattern, press “Save project (.json)”, and open that file in this maker to edit it by hand.
Can I add colours that are not in the list?
Yes. Use the colour picker under the palette and press “Add this colour”. The pattern can hold up to 250 colours.
Can I draw on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Tap to place beads and drag to draw. Choose the Scroll tool to move around a large pattern, and use the zoom slider to change the bead size.
Are the colours the same as my brand of beads?
No. The palette is generic and not matched to any brand’s numbers. Use the names and hex codes in the legend to pick the closest beads from your own set.