Reading the material list: how many beads of each color to buy
The material list is the bridge between a pattern and a purchase. Read it properly and ordering beads stops going wrong.
What is in the list
The exported material list is a CSV where each row is one color code. Three columns matter:
| Column | Means |
|---|---|
| Code | The color's identifier, used against a card and when ordering |
| Name | The family the code belongs to, for quick recognition |
| Quantity | How many beads of that code the pattern needs |
Add the quantity column and you have the total bead count — the number that determines both your working time and your budget.
From list to order: getting the quantity right
- Look at the total first. 800 beads and 3000 beads are entirely different projects.
- Find the top three codes by quantity. Usually background, body and main color. They account for most of the total and are the most likely to run short.
- Check for codes needed only once or twice. These are the worst value — a whole bag for two beads. Swap them for a neighbor.
- Convert to bag sizes. Beads usually sell in packs (often 500 or 1000). Divide by pack size and round up.
- Add about 10% spare. See below.
Dropping a line item: if a code needs fewer than 5 beads and a nearby color you are already buying exists in the same family, swap it. Visually indistinguishable, one less order line, one less bag in storage.
Why keep spare
Wastage is higher than expected, from four sources:
- Dropped beads. Desk, floor, sofa gap — a few always go missing.
- Ironing mistakes. Uneven heat, curling or a collapsed area can need patching and re-ironing.
- Color adjustments. Changing a color halfway leaves you with surplus of one and a shortfall of another.
- Batch variation. Restocking from a different batch can show at a seam.
Keep roughly 10% extra of each code. For high-quantity codes, never buy the exact number.
Tracking as you bead: the making assistant
The hardest part of a large pattern is not color — it is losing track of where you got to. The making assistant exists for that:
- Select one code to work on. It highlights that code and dims the rest, so you focus on a single color at a time.
- Mark it done when finished. Progress is stored locally, so closing the browser and returning keeps it.
- Work through in order. Start with the highest-quantity codes; the finish is easier.
Why work by color rather than by region: working by color means opening one bag at a time, which cuts bag-swapping dramatically and makes misplaced beads less likely.
Common questions
- Does the count include transparent cells? Usually counted separately, since they consume no colored beads. If they dominate, recrop the image.
- Does the list update after I edit? Only when you re-export. Do not order from an old list.
- Can I buy only part of the list? Yes, but missing colors must be substituted, and the result will differ from the pattern.
Final check before ordering
- The list was exported after the last edit
- Total bead count matches your budget and time
- No code is needed for only one or two beads (or it has been swapped)
- Spare is included for every code
- Critical codes were checked against a physical card
- Stock and shipping batch are confirmed