How to make a kandi pattern from a picture
- Upload a picture. Logos, characters, emoji and simple pixel art make the best kandi patterns. Crop to the part you want on the cuff.
- Set the width. The width is the number of pony beads in each row, which is one loop around the wrist. 25 beads is a good start for an adult cuff.
- Keep the colors few. Kandi patterns read best with 4–8 colors. Use the Max colors slider, or pick only the pony bead colors you own.
- String it row by row. Open the row-by-row instructions and string from row 1 up, following the color counts for each row.
Kandi cuff patterns: flat (ladder) or peyote
A flat or ladder kandi cuff stacks the rows straight on top of each other, so the pattern looks exactly like the grid. A peyote or x-base kandi cuff offsets every other column by half a bead, which makes the cuff stronger and rounder. Turn on the Peyote view to see how your kandi pattern will look offset, and adjust it before you start stringing.
Pony bead patterns that are easy to string
- Pick a picture with a clear shape: kandi patterns are small, so fine details disappear.
- Leave a plain row at the top and bottom so the edges of the cuff look tidy.
- Count your beads first: the color list shows how many pony beads of each color the whole cuff needs.
- Want a fuse bead version instead? The same picture works in the Perler bead pattern maker, and there are ready-made designs in our free bead patterns.