Ringed planet fuse bead pattern

About this design

The planet is a round Apricot globe with two Butterscotch bands and a couple of White beads for a shine at the top left. A wide ring circles it at the equator: it disappears behind the planet at the top and sweeps across the front at the bottom, where a single row of Rust beads shows the ring’s shadow on the surface. The ring is Toothpaste with a Turquoise stripe running through it, and both ends stick well out past the planet to make the shape easy to recognise.

Bead counts: 81 Black, 76 Apricot, 70 Toothpaste, 25 Butterscotch, 25 Turquoise, 13 Rust and 29 White.

Placing the beads

The planet is 29 beads wide, the full width of a large square pegboard, and 17 rows tall. Start with the black lines where the ring meets the planet, because they set where everything else goes. Fill the front of the ring next, then the planet bands above and below it, and finish with the outer outline. The ring tips are narrow, so check each bead there is sitting straight.

Ironing and finishing

Rated 3 for the careful counting rather than the ironing. Even so, ironing is for an adult: medium heat, ironing paper and slow circles, giving the thin ring tips enough time to fuse. Flip and iron the back, then cool under a book so it stays flat. At about 14.5 × 8.5 cm it suits a space-themed bedroom wall, and a row of planets in different colours makes a mobile.

Colour plan

Perler 80-19018 Black does the most work, 28% of the 293 beads, followed by Perler 80-15213 Apricot at 26%. Perler 80-19001 White (3) is used only a little: small details worth marking on the chart so you don't miss them. 41% of the grid is left empty.

Working notes

All the beads touch along a full side, so it irons into one solid piece.