What Can You Make with Fuse Beads? Sizes and Bead Counts
・ ・ mamepix editors
With 2.6 mm fuse beads you can make anything from earrings 10–14 beads across to a coaster of about 38 beads (≈ 10 cm) or wall art of 78 beads (≈ 20 cm). The finished size is simply beads across × 0.26 cm, so decide what you want to make first, then choose the bead count.
What you can make with 2.6 mm fuse beads
Each 2.6 mm fuse bead is about 2.6 mm wide, so beads across × 0.26 = finished size in cm. Earrings are about 10–14 beads across (≈ 2.6–3.6 cm), brooches and magnets 10–20 beads (≈ 2.6–5.2 cm), keychains 20–30 beads (≈ 5–8 cm), coasters about 38 beads (≈ 10 cm), and framed art 29–78 beads (≈ 7.5–20.3 cm).
The same design can become an accessory or a piece of home decor just by changing the bead count. Knowing the right size for each use makes it easy to set up your pattern and pick your beads.
Sizes and bead counts at a glance
The bead count is the maximum for a completely filled square. Real designs leave empty space around the shape, so they use fewer beads. The colors of a pattern you make in the Pattern Maker can go into your cart as single-color packs (about 1,000 beads, ¥120 each); 20 packs are ¥2,280.
| What to make | Beads across | Finished size | Beads (max) | Pattern or product |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earring charms | 10–14 | ≈ 2.6–3.6 cm | up to 196 | Free pattern + Starter Set |
| Ring topper | 6–8 | ≈ 1.6–2.1 cm | up to 64 | Beads you have, or single-color beads |
| Magnet | 10–20 | ≈ 2.6–5.2 cm | up to 400 | Free pattern, single-color beads |
| Brooch or badge | 12–20 | ≈ 3.1–5.2 cm | up to 400 | Free pattern, single-color beads |
| Keychain | 20–30 | ≈ 5.2–7.8 cm | up to 900 | Pattern Maker + single-color beads, Made to Order (up to 30×30, ¥3,980) |
| Bag charm | 24–36 | ≈ 6.2–9.4 cm | up to 1,296 | Pattern Maker + single-color beads |
| Coaster | about 38 | ≈ 10 cm | up to 1,444 | Pattern Maker + single-color beads |
| Mini framed art | 29–52 | ≈ 7.5–13.5 cm | up to 2,704 | Pattern Maker + single-color beads, Made to Order frame S (up to 50×50, ¥7,980) |
| Wall art | about 78 | ≈ 20.3 cm | up to 6,084 | Pattern Maker + single-color beads, Made to Order frame M (up to 80×80, ¥12,800) |
Free patterns are just right for brooches and charms
Of the 117 mamepix free patterns (as of September 29, 2026), 111 are small: 11–21 beads across (≈ 2.9–5.5 cm) and 49–280 beads. Made as they are, they come out the perfect size for brooches, magnets and charms. The Heart, for example, is 13×12 beads (≈ 3.4×3.1 cm), and the Snowflake is 15×13 beads (≈ 3.9×3.4 cm) with only 49 beads in 2 colors, the easiest of all.
For earrings, make two identical pieces. Fuse beads weigh about 10 g per 1,000 beads, so even a completely filled 14×14 square (196 beads) is only about 2 g.
The button under each pattern puts the 2.6 mm beads it uses in your cart (one pack of about 1,000 per color, ¥120).
Tips for attaching findings
There are two ways to attach hardware: thread it through a hole or gap in the piece, or glue it to the back. For how to make the hole for a keychain and how to make pieces sturdier, see how to make a fuse bead keychain.
For ball chains, jump rings, earring hooks, magnets, pin backs and ring blanks, use findings from a craft store or a 100-yen shop.
- Ball chain: thread it straight through the hole of an edge bead, or through a gap where you left one bead out
- Jump ring: goes through a hole or gap the same way; iron that spot lightly so the hole stays open
- Earrings: connect the piece to craft-store earring findings with a jump ring
- Magnet, pin back or ring blank: iron the back flat too, then glue the finding on
- For pieces you carry around, iron both sides well and make sure the edge row is fully fused so it doesn’t crack
Sizing a photo pattern in the Pattern Maker
In the Pattern Maker, choose "Beads across" from the presets S 29 (≈ 7.5 cm), M 52 (≈ 13.5 cm) or L 78 (≈ 20.3 cm), or use the slider to set anything from 16 to 120 beads to match the table above. For choosing a good photo, see photo tips for the Pattern Maker.
- Choose a photo in the Pattern Maker and pick a Shape: Square, Portrait 3:4, Landscape 4:3 or Original
- Set "Beads across" with a preset (S 29, M 52, L 78) or with the slider to match what you are making (e.g. 38 for a coaster)
- Check the finished size and total beads under "Materials and order"
- Turn on "Remove background" if needed (empty cells aren’t counted, so you need fewer beads too)
- If you add an outline, it adds one ring of beads around the design, so check the finished size again
- Save the printable PDF (A4, one page per pegboard) or use "Beads for this pattern" to add its colors to your cart
Size calculator and number of pegboards
Know how big you want it but not how many beads? The size calculator converts cm to beads: 10 cm is about 38 beads, 15 cm about 58.
A 2.6 mm pegboard is 29×29 pegs (≈ 7.5 cm square), so for anything larger you line up several boards. See how to make large designs for joining them.
| Beads across | Finished size | Pegboards (29×29) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | ≈ 7.5 cm | 1 | Keychain, mini frame |
| 38 | ≈ 9.9 cm | 2×2 = 4 | Coaster |
| 52 | ≈ 13.5 cm | 2×2 = 4 | Mini framed art |
| 78 | ≈ 20.3 cm | 3×3 = 9 | Wall art |
FAQ
How many beads for a 10 cm coaster?
About 38 beads across with 2.6 mm beads (≈ 9.9 cm). A full square is up to 1,444 beads, made on 2×2 joined 29×29 pegboards.
What size is best for a keychain?
About 20–30 beads across (≈ 5–8 cm). The "S 29" preset in the Pattern Maker gives about 7.5 cm.
Are fuse bead earrings heavy?
No. Beads weigh about 10 g per 1,000, so even a fully filled 14×14 square (196 beads) is only about 2 g.
Where can I get findings?
Keychain ball chains are in the mamepix shop (10 for ¥330). Jump rings, earring hooks, pin backs and similar findings are available at craft stores.
Set your size in the Pattern Maker
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