Where to buy 2.6 mm fuse beads | Dollar stores, craft stores and online
To 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.
Side by side
In-store selection varies by season and by store. 2.6 mm beads are less widely stocked than 5 mm, so if you can't find them, online is the reliable option.
| Dollar stores | Craft stores | Online shops and kits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color range | Limited (mostly assortments) | Varies by store | Wide (sometimes 200+ colors) |
| Sold by single color? | Often not | Some | Yes |
| Color codes | Often none | Depends on the brand | Yes (e.g. MARD) |
| Best for | Trying it out first | Choosing in person | Turning photos or illustrations into bead art |
For photo patterns, collect colors by color code
A photo or illustration pattern uses around 10–30 colors. Assortment sets often leave you short of some colors, so the least wasteful approach is to check the pattern's materials list (color codes and bead counts) and buy only the colors you need, one at a time.
Get a 2.6 mm pegboard and tweezers too
Each pegboard is made for one bead size; 2.6 mm beads won't fit on a 5 mm pegboard. Fine-tipped tweezers are the easiest to use.
Try one of these patterns
FAQ
Can I use 2.6 mm beads from a dollar store?
Yes. But they often come in fewer colors, so you'll need to substitute colors in photo patterns. Setting fewer colors in the Pattern Maker makes it easier to match.
How can I buy only the colors I need?
When you make a pattern in the Pattern Maker, you get a list of the colors and bead counts it uses. Buy just those colors as mamepix single-color beads (1,000 beads each), or order a Custom Kit and we'll pack the colors and bead counts for that pattern and send them to you.