Download a blank pegboard as a PDF and draw your own pattern with pencil and colors before you place a single bead. Every square is one bead. Single boards print at actual size, so the sheet matches the pegboard you own, and the count marks every fifth bead make it easy to find the right peg when the design goes onto the board.
Choose your template
All sheets are A4. Print at 100 % (not "fit to page") so single boards keep their actual size.
Midi board 29 × 29 — The standard board for Hama midi, Nabbi, Pyssla and Perler beads. Where most people start.
2 × 2 midi boards (58 × 58) — Four boards on one sheet for slightly bigger motifs – the frames show where the boards meet.
3 × 3 midi boards (87 × 87) — A planning sheet for large pictures. Small squares, but the whole motif on one page.
Mini board 57 × 57 — For the small mini beads (2.5 mm). The same physical size as a midi board, but four times as many beads.
Maxi board 16 × 16 — For the big maxi beads the youngest children use. Large squares, easy to color in.
How to use the template
Print at 100 % Choose "actual size" or 100 % in the print dialog, not "fit to page". Then every square is as big as a peg on the board, and you can keep the sheet next to the board while you place beads.
Draw the pattern in pencil first Start with the outline and fill in the colors afterwards. Use the count marks every fifth bead to keep things symmetrical – a heart or a star needs the same number of squares on each side of the middle.
Count the beads Write a small color list in the margin: how many squares of each color. Then you know whether you have enough beads before you start, and you can sort them into bowls ahead of time.
Place the beads row by row Work from the top left corner, one row at a time, and tick the row off on the sheet when it is done. The count marks on the sheet match the board, so you can always find your place again if you lose track.
Three tips for a pattern that turns out well
Stick to a few colors Five to ten colors are plenty for a 29 × 29 board. Large connected areas are easier to place and look calmer than lots of single beads in different colors.
Add an outline in one dark color A black or dark brown outline around the figure makes it stand out clearly, especially once the beads are ironed and the colors blend a little.
Use the color codes Write the Hama number next to each color on the sheet so you can buy exactly the beads you are missing. We have a list of all color codes in the guides below.
Would you rather have the pattern drawn for you?
Pick a picture and Perleland turns it into a pattern with color codes and bead counts in a moment, in the board size you choose. It is free, and you can edit the pattern afterwards. If you have an idea but no picture, you can also type it and we draw the motif first.
A standard square midi board has 29 × 29 pegs and measures about 14.5 × 14.5 cm (5.7 in). The mini board has 57 × 57 pegs at the same physical size, and the maxi board 16 × 16 pegs at about 16 × 16 cm. The templates here follow those measurements.
Does the template fit Hama, Nabbi, Pyssla and Perler?
Yes. All the common midi beads use the same peg spacing (5 mm), so the same template fits all of them. The same goes for mini and maxi across brands.
Why should I print at 100 %?
Printers often shrink the page slightly to make room for margins. If you choose "actual size" or 100 %, the squares keep their measurements and the sheet can sit next to the board while you place beads. A scaled sheet still works fine as a drawing sheet.
Can I get the template with my own pattern in it?
Yes. Pick a picture in the tool and you get a finished pattern with color codes on the same grid, ready to print and follow. Picture to bead pattern is free.
May I use the template at school or in a club?
Yes, please do. Print as many as you need and share the page with colleagues. The template is free and does not require an account.