Craft knowledge
The beadwork field notes.
Tutorials, technique guides, and honest comparisons — written by people who actually bead.
Tutorial
How to Turn a Photo into a Perler Bead Pattern (Free)
Turn a photo into a perler bead pattern free: pick a strong source, size a face so it stays recognizable, cut to 8-16 colors, and export a numbered chart.
Tutorial
Pixel Art to Perler Pattern: Keep Every Pixel
Convert pixel art to a perler pattern without the mushy resampling generic tools produce. Map one pixel to one bead and keep every sprite edge crisp.
Guide
Free Perler Bead Pattern Maker: Image to Pegboard Chart
Use a free perler bead pattern maker to turn any image into a pegboard chart. Convert photos to fuse-bead patterns with a numbered grid and color counts.
Tutorial
How to Make a Bead Pattern with Beadify: A Beginner Guide
How to make a bead pattern with Beadify: convert an image to a pattern, pick a grid size and bead palette, edit cells, choose a stitch, and export PDF instructions.
Tutorial
How to End Beading Thread and Add New Thread
How to end beading thread and add a new one so the join is invisible and never comes undone — the thread path, half-hitch knots, tension, and stitch-specific notes.
Tutorial
How to Make a Bead Pattern (Step by Step)
How to make a bead pattern step by step: convert finished size to bead counts using real Delica geometry, pick a stitch, chart or convert an image, and tally beads.
Tutorial
Bead Loom for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide
A bead loom for beginners, step by step: warping the loom, the header, the two-pass weft that locks each row, reading a loom chart, tension, and finishing.
Tutorial
Peyote Stitch for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide
Peyote stitch for beginners, step by step: even-count and odd-count thread paths, the step up, reading a peyote chart, tension, and how negative space works.
Tutorial
Right Angle Weave (RAW) for Beginners
The four-bead unit, the loop thread path, and how RAW differs from peyote and brick — a step-by-step walkthrough of your first row and second row.
Reference
Bead Finishes Explained: Matte, AB, Galvanized, Ceylon
Opaque, transparent, matte, AB, galvanized, Ceylon, silver-lined, luster, metallic — what each finish does, how it ages, and which ones survive everyday wear.
Reference
Beading Needles: Size 10 vs 12 vs 13 vs 15 Explained
What needle sizes actually mean, how to match a needle to your bead size and thread, and the four needle types every workbench should have.
Tutorial
How to Turn Any Photo into a Bead Pattern
A step-by-step walkthrough of converting a photograph into a workable bead chart — from image prep to reading your first row.
Guide
Peyote Stitch vs Loom Stitch: Which Should You Choose?
Two of the most popular bead weaving methods explained side by side — when each one shines, and how they change your pattern chart.
Comparison
Miyuki vs Toho vs Preciosa: Choosing the Right Seed Bead
A practical comparison of the three major seed bead brands — size consistency, color range, availability, and what matters most for pattern work.
Tutorial
How to Read a Bead Chart: A Complete Guide
Grid orientation, row direction, color codes, peyote vs loom offset — everything a beginner needs to follow any chart without losing their place.
Reference
Seed Bead Sizes Explained: 6°, 8°, 11°, and 15°
Why bigger numbers mean smaller beads, how each size is measured, and which size to reach for depending on your project type.
Design
Beaded Earrings: How to Design Your Own Pattern
From choosing dimensions and palette to converting an idea into a working chart — a full guide to creating original earring designs from scratch.
Guide
Best Thread for Bead Weaving: FireLine, Nymo, and KO Compared
A practical comparison of the three most-used bead weaving threads — strength, stretch, color range, and which projects each handles best.
Tutorial
Brick Stitch for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Pattern Guide
How brick stitch works, how it differs from peyote, how to read a brick stitch chart, and how to plan your first project.
Reference
How Many Beads Do I Need? A Pattern Planning Guide
Coverage by stitch type, size 11° bead density, the 15% buffer rule, and how to calculate exact quantities before buying.
Tutorial
Beaded Bracelet Patterns for Beginners: What to Know Before You Start
Stitch selection, sizing, color choices, and how to design your own bracelet pattern — everything before the first bead goes on the needle.
Guide
How to Convert a Cross Stitch Pattern to Beads
The grid looks the same, but bead aspect ratios, color systems, and half-stitch rules require specific adjustments. A step-by-step conversion guide.
Design
Bead Color Theory: How to Build a Palette That Works
Why bead finish changes apparent color, how to test value contrast, and a step-by-step method for building a palette that reads clearly in the finished piece.