Name bracelets are one of the most popular peyote projects, and also one of the fiddliest to chart by hand, because letters must sit on the offset grid and the name must fit the band width. This tool does both and writes the word chart for you.
How it works
- Type the name. Up to 40 characters; one line for bracelets, several for panels.
- Choose font and layout. Basic 5×7, Serif 7×9, Tiny 3×5, Bold 6×7, Outline 7×9 or Big 10×14; Sideways for bracelets, Horizontal for panels and earrings.
- Pick bead colours. Letters, background and border from 66 generic cylinder bead shades.
- Download. PDF chart on the offset grid, bead counts and grams, and the full word chart.
Tips for beaded lettering
Fix the band width first. Decide how wide your cuff will be, then set the fixed width to that number of beads. The letters are centred on the band, and the padding keeps a border of background on both edges.
Use high contrast. Black on white, white on navy and gold on black are classic for a reason. With beads 1.3 mm across, two similar colours look like one.
Allow space between letters. In Sideways layout, letter spacing becomes rows of background along the band. Two rows between letters keep them from merging once the beadwork tightens.
Choose the right stitch. Peyote is ideal for long bracelets; brick stitch suits earrings and pendants where the word hangs vertically. Switch in the advanced options and the chart redraws.
Check the length. The finished size under the controls shows the length of the name. Add plain background at each end until the bracelet fits your wrist, leaving room for the clasp.
More options
Single peyote letters suit initial charms and earrings, and the peyote editor lets you add hearts, stars or a border motif around the name.
What you get
| Sizes | 6–120 beads wide from a photo; editor up to 2,000 × 2,000 |
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| Colours | 2–30, matched by CIEDE2000 colour difference |
| Palettes | Generic cylinder beads |
| Downloads | PDF (cover, colour key, numbered chart pages, optional colour pages), PNG, SVG, shopping list CSV, .cpat project |
| Files accepted | JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, AVIF, iPhone HEIC; .cpat and OXS patterns; PDFs made by CraftPatterns |
| Privacy | Runs in your browser. Images are never uploaded. |
| Price | Free — no sign-up, no watermark |
How it compares with other free tools
What you can expect here, every time — no tiers, no trial.
| Free printable PDF | Yes, with no watermark |
|---|---|
| Sign-up needed | No |
| Image uploaded to a server | No — processed on your device |
| Editor | Yes — pencil, fill, line, rectangle, mirror, undo |
| Progress tracker | Yes — free, works offline |
| Switch the same pattern to another craft | Yes — one tap |
Frequently asked questions
How do I make the name run along a bracelet?
Choose the Sideways layout. The text is rotated so each letter sits across the band and the name reads along the bracelet when it is worn. Set the fixed width to the width of your bracelet in beads.
How wide does a name bracelet need to be?
Sideways Basic letters are 7 beads tall, so they need a band at least 9 beads wide with one bead of background on each side. Tiny letters fit a 7-bead band.
Will the offset grid distort the letters?
Slightly. In peyote every other column sits half a bead lower, so straight strokes look a little stepped. At bracelet size the letters still read clearly, and the bead preview shows the real effect.
Is there a word chart?
Yes. The PDF contains the full word chart, row by row, and the first rows appear under the chart in the tool.
Can I add hearts or stars?
Yes. The fonts include ♥ and * characters, and the hearts and stars borders frame the name.
Which beads should I use?
11/0 cylinder beads. The palette is our own set of generic shades; choose the closest beads you can buy.
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