How to print fuse bead patterns at actual size

Print perlepop patterns at 100% so your pegboard lines up with the beads on the sheet: printer settings, the 10 cm check line and ironing tips.

Print at 100%

  1. Download the PDF from the pattern page.
  2. Open it in a PDF viewer and choose Print.
  3. Under scale or page sizing, choose "Actual size" or "100%". Do not choose "Fit to page" or "Shrink oversized pages".
  4. Print on A4 paper.

Check the 10 cm line

Every perlepop PDF has a ruler line near the top. Measure it with a ruler: it must be exactly 10 cm. If it is shorter or longer, the printer scaled the page. Print again with the scale set to 100%.

When the line is right, each printed circle sits exactly under one peg of your pegboard.

Using the printout

  • Clear pegboards can go straight on top of the sheet: put each bead where you see a circle of the same colour.
  • The number in each circle matches the colour list, so the pattern also works printed in black and white.
  • The colour list shows the Hama number and how many beads of each colour you need.

Ironing

  • Ironing is a job for an adult.
  • Lay ironing paper over the beads, set the iron to medium heat with no steam, and iron in small circles until the beads fuse.
  • Let the design cool under something heavy, like a book, so it stays flat. You can then turn it over and iron the back.
  • Midi and Mini beads are small parts and not suitable for children under 3.

Questions

  • My printer adds a white border. That is fine: only the scale matters, not the margins.
  • I only have US Letter paper. Print at actual size anyway. The pattern keeps its size; on tall designs the footer may be cut off.
  • The beads don't line up at the edge of a big design. Measure the 10 cm line again: even 2% scaling adds up over a whole board.