How to make a perler bead pattern from a photo

Your pattern comes with a bead list

Example: 1,322 beads, 7 colors, 43 x 60 squares

What you need

Download the PDFUS Letter, one page. Print it and start.

• OrangeF1525
• Light orangeD1287
• Dark brownB1257
• WhiteG1106
• BrownE178
• BlackC167
• WhiteA12
• Total1,322

Size

43 x 60 squares (about 21.5 x 30 cm / 8.5 x 11.8 in with 5 mm beads)

Pegboards

2 x 3 large square boards (29 x 29)

Cross stitch

43 x 60 stitches: about 3.1 x 4.3 in on 14-count Aida

The counts are the squares of the example PDF, without the white background. The codes (A1, B1 …) match the color key in the PDF. White appears twice in the key (A1 and G1); use the same white bead for both.

Want this for your own photo?

Make my pattern in the app

Free to start · iPhone / Android

Three steps to the pattern

The red circles show where to tap.

1Pick a photo and convert it at Coarse

On the home screen, tap Create Pixel Art, pick a photo and set Size to Coarse (1). The example became a 65x65 grid. Then tap PIXEL EDIT (2).

2Reduce the colors

Tap the rightmost tool in the toolbar, choose the number of colors with − and + (1) and tap Change (2). The example went from 16 colors to 7 (the result has at most the number you choose), so you need fewer kinds of beads.

Fix any square by hand with the pen or the fill tool.

3Export a PDF and print it

Save (top right) → Print / open in pattern apps → Print PDF → choose A4 or US Letter (1) → Print (2). To keep the file, tap the share button on the print screen and choose Save to Files.

The PDF numbers every fifth row and column and lists each color with a code and hex value.

Try these steps in the app

Make my pattern in the app

Free to start · iPhone / Android

Perler bead and cross stitch color numbers

The PDF gives each color a code and a hex value, not a brand's color number. For color numbers, tap Save → Print / open in pattern apps and send the pattern to another app.

• Perler bead numbers → Perlypop

  A bead pattern app. Shows the bead count per Perler color, how many pegboards you need and the finished size.

• DMC floss numbers → Stitchly

  A cross stitch pattern app. Each color becomes the nearest DMC floss number.

• Pixel art editor → Aseprite

  Saves a file you can keep editing in Aseprite.

• Coloring → Threadlet

  Sends the pattern to a coloring app.

More on cross stitch and bead patterns: Turn a photo into a cross stitch or bead pattern.

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