Hama bead pattern maker
Make a Hama bead pattern from any image: every cell becomes a 5 mm Hama Midi bead with its Hama number and name, the key counts the beads per color, and the page shows how many 29 × 29 pegboards the design covers.
Updated
or drop or paste an image here. It stays on your device.
Your photo starts at 29 beads wide (the sample below is 29 × 29); height follows the photo. Up to 150 wide free.
2 to 30 colors free; up to 80 with Pro.
Sample chart: a strawberry, 29 × 29 beads (5.7 × 5.7 in on 5 mm Midi pegboard (29 × 29 pegs)) in 10 Hama colors. Its background is left unstitched (526 cells of bare pegboard), so the key counts only the motif. Choose a photo to chart your own at 29 beads wide.
- Grid
- 29 × 29
- Finished size
- 5.7 × 5.7 in (14.5 × 14.5 cm)
- Colors
- 10 Hama
- Beads
- 315 · 1 pegboard
| Symbol | Swatch | Hama | Name | Beads | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | 13 | Transparent Red | 107 | 34.0 % | |
| O | 114 | Cherry Red | 81 | 25.7 % | |
| + | 44 | Pastel Red | 37 | 11.7 % | |
| # | 84 | Olive Green | 23 | 7.3 % | |
| @ | 33 | Cerise | 18 | 5.7 % | |
| % | 05 | Red | 17 | 5.4 % | |
| & | 101 | Eucalyptus | 12 | 3.8 % | |
| = | 102 | Forest Green | 8 | 2.5 % | |
| S | 78 | Light Peach | 8 | 2.5 % | |
| T | 19 | Clear | 4 | 1.3 % |
Bead counts are exact: one bead per cell. Share is each color's part of all beads; buy a little extra of each color for losses. The design spans 1 × 1 pegboard of 29 × 29 pegs. Thread and bead colors on screen are approximations of the real material.
Free PDF up to 60 × 60 beads (vector chart with real text symbols, color key and estimates). PNG has no size limit.
Pro, $14 once: PDF at any size with a page map, 31 to 80 colors, symbol-only or color charts, a shopping-list CSV and saved projects.
What this Hama bead pattern maker makes
Hama Midi beads are the 5 mm size most people mean by "Hama beads". Hama numbers its colors (01 White, 18 Black and so on), and those numbers are what the key shows, so you can order refills by number.
The preset starts at 29 beads, the width of a large square Hama board. For a photo, try 40 to 60 beads wide and 12 to 20 colors; for pixel art, use the sprite width and as many colors as the sprite has.
The Hama bead preset
| Grid material | 5 mm Midi pegboard (29 × 29 pegs) |
|---|---|
| Size of one bead | 5 mm square |
| Beads per inch | 5.08 |
| Beads in 10 × 10 cm | 400 |
| Color palette | 92 Hama colors; Hama Midi fuse beads (5 mm) |
| Suggested width | 29 beads = 14.5 cm (5.7 in) |
| Suggested color limit | 12 colors (free tool: up to 30) |
| Shopping list in the key | bead count per Hama color |
How big a Hama bead pattern comes out
Finished width = beads × 5 mm. The table uses the nominal grid (5 mm Midi pegboard (29 × 29 pegs)); real pieces vary slightly with the material.
| Width (beads) | Width (cm) | Width (in) | Square design: beads | Pegboards (29 × 29) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Hama beads | 10.0 | 3.9 | 400 | 1 (1 × 1) |
| 29 Hama beads | 14.5 | 5.7 | 841 | 1 (1 × 1) |
| 50 Hama beads | 25.0 | 9.8 | 2,500 | 4 (2 × 2) |
| 100 Hama beads | 50.0 | 19.7 | 10,000 | 16 (4 × 4) |
Hama pegboard layouts
One 5 mm Midi pegboard (29 × 29 pegs) holds 841 beads and covers 14.5 cm (5.7 in) per side before ironing. Linked boards give these sizes:
| Layout | Beads (w × h) | Size | Beads to fill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 × 1 Hama boards | 29 × 29 | 14.5 × 14.5 cm | 841 |
| 2 × 1 Hama boards | 58 × 29 | 29.0 × 14.5 cm | 1,682 |
| 2 × 2 Hama boards | 58 × 58 | 29.0 × 29.0 cm | 3,364 |
| 3 × 2 Hama boards | 87 × 58 | 43.5 × 29.0 cm | 5,046 |
| 3 × 3 Hama boards | 87 × 87 | 43.5 × 43.5 cm | 7,569 |
How to read a Hama bead pattern
Each square is one bead. Start in a corner and work in rows or in color blocks; the symbol in each square and the number in the key tell you which Hama color to pick.
Designs wider than 29 beads span several boards. The 10-bead grid on the chart lines up with the board edges when the width is a multiple of 29, which keeps the seams easy to find.
Materials for Hama bead patterns
- Hama Midi 5 mm beads, by the numbers in the key.
- Large square Hama pegboards (29 × 29) or shaped boards for small motifs.
- Hama ironing paper or baking parchment, and an iron without steam.
- A sorting tray and tweezers.
Make a Hama bead pattern from a photo
-
Choose the image
Logos, characters and pets with clear outlines work best. Crop to the subject.
-
Set the width in beads
29 fills one large board; the page lists the board count and finished size for wider designs.
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Limit the colors
Twelve colors is a good start. Lower it if the key lists colors with only a handful of beads.
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Bead the design
Follow the pattern row by row. Place outlines and dark areas first to anchor the picture.
-
Iron and press
Cover with ironing paper, iron in circles at medium heat until the beads fuse, then cool under a weight.
Tips for Hama bead patterns
- Hama numbers are easier to reorder than names; keep the key with your bead tubs.
- Translucent, neon and glitter Hama beads look different from the flat swatch on screen, so the tool only uses them when a photo truly needs that color. Check the key for them.
- Iron both sides for a sturdy coaster or keyring; one side leaves the bead texture visible on the back.
- Use the same pegboard size the chart assumes; Hama also makes Maxi (10 mm) and Mini (2.5 mm), which need different boards.
Hama color pages
Each page lists the color's hex value and its nearest equivalents in other brands by CIEDE2000.
Hama colors, one per family
Color references
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a Hama bead pattern from a picture?
Yes. Upload a picture above, choose the width in beads and the number of colors, and the tool returns a pattern using real Hama Midi colors with a bead count for each number.
How many beads are on a large Hama pegboard?
A large square Hama Midi pegboard has 29 × 29 pegs, so it holds 841 beads. The tool shows how many boards your chosen width needs.
Are Hama beads the same size as Perler beads?
Hama Midi and standard Perler beads are both nominally 5 mm and fit the same pegboards. Their colors differ, so each color page lists the nearest match in the other brand.
How big is a 50-bead Hama bead pattern?
50 beads at 5 mm each come out 25.0 cm (9.8 in) wide. A square design that size has 50 rows and 2,500 beads, spread over 4 pegboards of 29 × 29.
Related
Other pattern makers
More pattern makers
- Perler Mini bead pattern maker 2.6 mm mini pegboard; Perler Mini palette with 41 colors; 1,444 beads per 10 × 10 cm