~ KANDI GUIDE ~
Kandi Patterns: Cuffs, Singles, Stars & How to Make Your Own
Updated June 2026 · ~4 min read
Kandi is the rave and festival craft of beaded bracelets and cuffs made from pony beads. This guide rounds up the main kandi pattern types — singles, cuffs, stars, and name beads — and shows how to design your own for free on a grid, then export a chart with a bead-count list.
Kandi pattern types
Singles
The classic one-row bracelet — a quick first kandi, great for letters and simple repeats.
Multi-row cuffs
Several rows of peyote or ladder stitch for wider bands and bigger pictures.
Star & 3D patterns
Kandi stars, balls, and cuff toppers built from a planned grid layout.
Name & word beads
Spell names, crew tags, or phrases with alphabet pony beads across a cuff.
Picture motifs
Hearts, mushrooms, smileys, animals, and icons charted cell by cell.
Charms & singles sets
Matching mini patterns for keychains, clips, and trade sets.
How to make your own kandi pattern
Open the kandi maker
Start from a blank grid — no photo and no sign-up needed. Each cell is one pony bead, so what you draw is exactly what you string.
Set the size
Pick one row for a single, or stack several rows for a cuff. Plan the width to match your wrist — most singles are around 40–55 beads end to end.
Place your colors and motif
Tap a color and click or drag to place beads. Use the fill tool for stripes and backgrounds, then draw a heart, star, mushroom, or name on top.
Space your letters
For name cuffs, keep capitals about 5–7 beads tall with a one-bead gap between letters so the word stays readable around the band.
Export your chart and bead list
Download a PNG or printable PDF with a per-color bead count — your exact shopping list — so you know how many of each color to buy before you string.
Tips for kandi patterns
- ✓ Standard pony beads are 6×9mm — one grid cell equals one bead when you plan a cuff.
- ✓ For peyote cuffs, offset every other row; the maker’s grid keeps the count aligned for you.
- ✓ Use the bead-count export as a shopping list — kandi kits sell pony beads by color and bulk.
- ✓ Trading at a rave? Make a few matching singles from one chart so they read as a set.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is kandi?
Kandi is the rave and festival craft of beaded bracelets, cuffs, and charms made from pony beads. Trading kandi (“PLUR”) is part of the culture.
What is a kandi single?
A single is a one-row kandi bracelet — the simplest pattern. It’s the usual starting point and the easiest thing to trade.
How do I make a kandi cuff pattern?
Open the maker, stack several rows for the cuff width, place your colors and any letters or motifs on the grid, then export the chart with the bead-count list.
How do I make a kandi star pattern?
Plan the star on the grid first — chart the points and center cell by cell — then read it row by row as you string. The exported chart keeps your count aligned.
Are kandi beads and pony beads the same?
Yes. Kandi is made from pony beads — the chunky large-hole plastic beads — so “kandi beads” and “pony beads” are the same thing.
Where can I get free kandi patterns?
Design your own for free in the MakeBead kandi maker — start from a blank grid, export a printable chart, or browse the community gallery for ideas to remix.
~ FREE, NO SIGN-UP TO START ~
Design your own kandi pattern
Open the kandi maker, place your colors and letters on the grid, and export a printable chart with a bead-count shopping list — free.
OPEN THE KANDI MAKER →