How-to guide
How to make 2.6 mm mini fuse bead designs
You'll need a pattern, beads, a 2.6 mm pegboard, tweezers, ironing paper and a household iron. Even at a relaxed pace, a size M design (52×52 beads) takes just a few hours.
Get your pattern ready
Print a pattern you made in the Pattern Maker, or display it on your phone or tablet. Turn on color codes to see at a glance which color goes where.
Place the beads on the pegboard
2.6 mm beads are tiny, so use tweezers. Follow the thick lines on the pattern (every 10 beads) to keep your place. Placing one color at a time speeds things up.
Cover with ironing paper
Gently lay ironing paper (baking parchment also works) over the beads so they don't shift.
Iron
With no steam and medium heat (about 140–160 °C), move the iron in small circles over the paper for 10–20 seconds at a time. Stop once the holes in the beads get a little smaller.
Cool under a weight
While it is still hot, put something flat and heavy such as a book on top to keep it from warping. Remove the paper and pegboard only after it has cooled completely.
Finish the back (optional)
Flip it over and iron the back the same way for a stronger, smoother finish. Ironing both sides is recommended for keychains.
2.6 mm vs 5 mm beads
| 2.6 mm (mini) | 5 mm (standard) | |
|---|---|---|
| Width of 29 beads | approx. 7.5 cm | approx. 14.5 cm |
| Width of 52 beads | approx. 13.5 cm | approx. 26 cm |
| Best for | Pet portraits, illustrations, keychains, small accessories | Coasters, larger decorations, kids' crafts |
| Ease of placing | Tweezers recommended | Easy to place with fingers |
Troubleshooting
- Beads don't stick together or fall apart
- The heat is too low or the time too short. Add 5 seconds at a time and check.
- The holes disappear and it melts too much
- The heat is too high or the time too long. Lower it to medium and iron for less time.
- The piece warps
- Put something flat and heavy on it while hot and leave it until it has cooled completely.
- Beads stick to the paper and won't come off
- This tends to happen when you peel it off before it has cooled. Let it cool fully before peeling.
In-depth articles
- How to iron 2.6 mm mini fuse beads | Temperature, time and tipsMini beads are small, so they heat up quickly. Stick to three rules (medium heat, short passes, and cooling under a weight) and you'll get a clean finish.
- How to choose photos for fuse bead patterns | Pattern Maker tipsA bead pattern is your photo converted into a grid of tiny squares. The larger and brighter the subject and the simpler the background, the better the pattern turns out.
- How to make a fuse bead keychainTurn a mini bead piece into a keychain and you can clip it to your bag and take it anywhere. The two things that matter most: iron both sides thoroughly, and leave a hole for the hardware.
- 2.6 mm mini vs 5 mm standard (midi) fuse beads: the differencesFuse beads come in two main sizes: 5 mm standard (midi) and 2.6 mm mini. With the same number of beads, a mini piece comes out about half the size.
- Getting started with 2.6 mm fuse beads | Tools and the basic processTo make 2.6 mm mini fuse bead art, you need a pattern, beads, a pegboard, tweezers, ironing paper and a household iron. For a first project, start small, at around 29 beads square.
- Making large patterns | How to join and split pegboardsPegboards for 2.6 mm beads are usually 29 × 29 pegs. For bigger patterns, line up several pegboards and build them as one piece. mamepix printable PDFs include pages split by pegboard.
- Fuse bead problems and fixes | Warping, not fusing, over-meltingMost fuse bead problems come down to how you heat and how you cool. The basic fixes: if it warps, rewarm it and cool it under a weight; if it won't hold together, iron a little longer.
- How to make fuse bead names | Name plates and keychainsMake each letter 10–14 beads tall and a name reads clearly even in 2.6 mm beads. Link the letters with an outline or a “plate” (square background) so the piece holds together and stays sturdy.
- Storing and caring for fuse bead art, and organizing your beadsFuse bead pieces don't like heat or direct sunlight, so store them flat somewhere cool and shady. Sort your beads into cases labeled by color code and they'll be ready for your next pattern.
- What are MARD color codes? | How to read 2.6 mm fuse bead color codesA MARD color code is a letter plus a number: the letter is the color series (A = yellow/orange, H = white/gray/black…) and the number is the shade. mamepix patterns, kits and single-color beads all use them.
- Where to buy 2.6 mm fuse beads | Dollar stores, craft stores and onlineTo try it out, a dollar store or craft store is fine. For photo patterns with many colors, online shops and kits that sell by color code are handier. The three things to compare are color range, amount per color, and whether color codes are available.
- What age are fuse beads for? | Enjoying 2.6 mm beads safelymamepix 2.6 mm beads and kits are for ages 6 and up. 2.6 mm beads are very small, so children up to elementary school age should work with an adult, and an adult should do the ironing.
- Fuse bead brands and color codes | MARD, Perler and HamaEvery fuse bead brand has its own color codes, so the same number can mean a different color. Check which brand a pattern's codes are for, and use a conversion chart to find close colors in other brands.
- Tips for turning photos into great pixel art | Pixel count, colors and choosing photosFor clean pixel art, convert a photo with a large subject at 32–64 pixels wide and about 8–16 colors. Fewer pixels give a retro game look; more pixels look closer to the photo.
Safety
Irons get very hot. Be careful of burns, and children should always work with an adult. The beads are small parts and are suitable for ages 6 and up.