Printable Beadwork Graph Paper
Beading graph paper with offset rows that match how seed beads actually sit in peyote and brick stitch. Bead proportions are adjustable, and a square-stitch mode turns the offset off.
- Free, no signup
- Exact-scale vector PDF
- Letter, A4, Legal & more
- Commercial use OK
36pt is half an inch — safe on virtually every printer.
Free, no signup. Print at 100% scale (not “fit to page”) so the measurements come out exact.
Live preview — US Letter (8.5 × 11"), portrait · updates as you change any setting.
Why beads are drawn offset
In peyote and brick stitch, each bead nestles into the gap between two beads in the previous row rather than sitting directly above one — that's what gives the fabric its characteristic brick-wall texture. Charting on a regular grid misrepresents this, and designs charted that way come out with diagonal edges you didn't intend. Offset rows show the true bead positions.
Bead proportions
Seed beads aren't square in cross-section. A cylinder bead like a Delica is noticeably taller than it is wide when strung in peyote orientation, typically around a 1.3 ratio. Rounded seed beads are closer to square. Setting the ratio to match your beads means the charted design's proportions carry through to the finished piece — which matters most for lettering and recognisable motifs.
Peyote, brick and square stitch
Peyote and brick stitch produce the same offset arrangement, rotated 90° relative to each other — so the same offset grid serves both; you simply work along it in a different direction. Square stitch, by contrast, lines beads up directly above one another in a true grid, which is what the square mode produces. Loom work also uses the square arrangement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What graph paper is used for peyote stitch?
Paper with offset rows, where each bead sits in the gap between two beads of the row below. That offset reflects how peyote fabric actually forms.
Is peyote and brick stitch graph paper the same?
Effectively yes — both produce the same offset bead arrangement, just rotated 90° from each other. The same grid works for both; you work along it in a different direction.
What bead ratio should I use?
Around 1.3 for cylinder beads like Delicas in peyote orientation, closer to 1.0 for rounded seed beads. Matching the ratio keeps your charted proportions accurate in the finished piece.
How do I chart for loom or square stitch?
Switch the style to square. That removes the row offset and gives a true grid, which is how loom work and square stitch align.
Printing Tips
- Print at 100% scale.Turn off “fit to page” and “shrink oversized pages” — otherwise your printer rescales the sheet and the measurements no longer match.
- Match the paper size. Choose the same size here as the paper in your tray. Printing a Letter PDF on A4 (or the reverse) scales it.
- Lighter lines print better. A light grey or blue guides your work without competing with it — and it uses far less ink.
- Use heavier paper for wet media. 100gsm and up for fountain pens and markers; standard copier paper is fine for pencil.