Name keychains are the classic pony bead project, and the hardest part is charting the letters so every row is a solid run of beads. This tool sets the letters on a background colour, centres them and writes out every row for you.
How it works
- Type a name. Letters, numbers, ♥ and *.
- Choose a layout and font. Stacked for a hanging tag, Horizontal for a wide one.
- Pick the colours. A dark letter on a light background reads best; neon letters on black look striking.
- Download. A PDF with the key, the chart, every row written out and the cord estimate.
Tips for name keychains
Short is better. A stacked name grows by about 8 cm for every Basic letter. Initials or a nickname make a neater keyring.
Leave a row between letters. The default line spacing puts background rows between stacked letters so they do not merge.
Add a border for a finished edge. A single-line border in a contrasting colour frames the tag and hides small wobbles in tension.
Check the width. Narrow tags (five to seven beads) need the least cord and are easiest for young children to lace.
What you get
| Sizes | 3–60 beads wide from a photo; editor up to 2,000 × 2,000 |
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| Colours | 2–20, matched by CIEDE2000 colour difference |
| Palettes | Generic pony 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
Why does the name need a background?
Each laced row is one run of beads on the cord, with no gaps. The spaces between and around the letters are filled with a background colour so the rows stay continuous.
Horizontal or stacked?
Stacked puts the letters one under another, the usual shape for a hanging name tag on a keyring. Horizontal makes a wide tag, which suits short names of three or four letters.
Which font should I use?
Tiny for long names and small tags, Basic for short names and initials that should read from a distance.
How big will it be?
Each bead is about 6 mm wide and 9 mm tall in a laced row. With the default spacing, a stacked three-letter name is about 4.2 × 24 cm in the Basic font and 3 × 19 cm in Tiny; laid out horizontally it is about 10 × 8 cm in Basic. Short names and initials suit keyrings best.
Can I add a heart?
Yes. The fonts include ♥ and * characters, and a single-line border frames the name.
How much cord do I need?
The tool and the PDF estimate it for the whole piece. Cut a little more.
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