~ DESIGNER GUIDE ~
How to Use the Bead Pattern Designer
Updated June 2026 · ~4 min read
MakeBead's designer lets you draw a bead pattern on a blank grid — no photo required. This guide walks you through every step: picking colors, drawing, saving your work to your account, and exporting a printable chart. It works for Perler, Hama, Artkal and more, free, and you can start without signing in.
Step-by-Step
Open the designer — a blank grid is ready
The designer loads instantly with a 29×29 grid — the size of one standard Perler / Hama pegboard. No photo and no sign-up needed to start. Change the grid size anytime from the size button in the toolbar, from a small 11×11 up to large multi-board canvases.
Pick a bead color
Open the palette on the right and click any color to select it. Switch bead brands (Perler, Hama, Artkal, MARD and more) from the brand dropdown — every color is a real bead you can buy, labeled with its official code. Use the search box to find a color by name or code, or use Custom Color to enter any exact HEX value.
Draw with the brush, fill, and other tools
Click or drag on the grid with the Brush to place beads. The Fill (paint bucket) floods a connected area in one click — great for backgrounds. The Color Picker samples a color already on the grid, and the Eraser removes beads. Made a mistake? Undo with Ctrl+Z and redo with Ctrl+Shift+Z — up to 50 steps.
Save reusable colors with “My Colors” (optional)
Use the same colors often? Select a color and tap + under “My Colors” to keep a personal palette that follows you into every design — you can even paste a whole list of codes at once. Sign in and your colors sync across all your devices.
Save your design to your account
To keep a design, click the Save (disk) icon. Saving uses a free account so your work is stored safely and synced across phone, tablet, and computer. If you're not signed in yet, MakeBead keeps your current design and brings it right back the moment you sign in — nothing is lost. Your saved designs live under “My Patterns.”
Export a printable chart
When your pattern is ready, open Export to download a PNG or printable PDF. Turn on the color list to see exactly how many beads of each color you need, and the ruler for coordinate numbers around the grid so you never lose your place while placing beads.
The toolbar at a glance
Brush
Click or drag to place one bead at a time.
Fill
Flood a connected area with one color in one click.
Color Picker
Sample any color already placed on the grid.
Eraser
Remove beads to clear a cell back to empty.
Tips for a cleaner design
- ✓ Plan letters, names, and symmetry on the grid first — count the cells before placing beads.
- ✓ Use Fill for the background, then switch to the Brush to add detail on top.
- ✓ Turn on Mirror Mode (toolbar toggle) to design both sides at once — perfect for keychains and earrings.
- ✓ Stick to about 5–8 colors for a clean, readable result at pegboard size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an account to use the designer?
No. You can design and export for free without signing in. An account is only needed to save designs to the cloud and sync them across your devices.
How do I save my design?
Click the Save (disk) icon in the toolbar. If you're not signed in, you'll be asked to sign in first — your design is kept and restored automatically right after, then stored under My Patterns.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free. There is no Pro version to unlock the core tools — drawing, colors, saving, and export are all free.
Does it work on phones and tablets?
Yes. The designer works in any modern mobile browser. On touch screens, tap or drag to place beads, and pinch or use the size button to fit the grid.
How do I change the grid size?
Use the size button in the toolbar (for example 29×29). Go smaller for quick pieces, or larger for multi-board projects that span several pegboards.
Can I design using only the colors I own?
Yes. Save your beads to “My Colors,” and when converting a photo you can choose “All my colors” so the pattern uses only the beads you actually have.
~ FREE, NO SIGN-UP TO START ~
Ready? Open the designer
Start with a blank grid and a full palette of real bead colors. Draw, save, and export a printable chart — all free.
OPEN THE DESIGNER →