How to Make a Hama/Perler Bead Mermaid
After making dozens of Hama bead lizards I started thinking what else I could make with these beads. I decided to try and make mermaids with them. It took a few tries but I’m really happy with how they turned out!
Below is a step-by-step tutorial on how to make these adorable mermaids with Hama beads. These beads might not be available in every country, so Perler beads or Pony beads are a great alternative!
Materials
Scissors
Yarn
Hama/Perler/Pony beads
Two needles (recommended if you are using yarn)
Step 1
Cut about 120 cm/47 inches of yarn, string 12 beads, and bring them to the middle. To make our mermaid's fin, we are going to separate the beads so that there are six beads on each side.
Step 2
With the help of our sewing needle, we can easily thread the left end of the yarn through the bead closest to the middle. Do the same with the right side.
Pull the two fins closer together if they are too far apart. You might have to use a bit of force depending on what kind of thread you are using.
Step 3
Method 1
Method 2
Next we'll make the mermaid’s tail by first adding one bead and then two. There are two ways you can add the beads:
Method 1:
Start by threading a bead onto the yarn. Then thread the left end of the yarn through the bead as shown above (left image).
Method 2:
If you are using two needles, you can thread the beads onto the sewing needle without pushing the beads onto the yarn. (See the second image above.) It’s a slightly faster way to add the beads. Be careful not to poke yourself with the needles!
Step 4
Continue adding beads this way. You can make the mermaid's tail as long as you want or copy the number of beads I used. When you have completed the tail, add three more beads. This will be the mermaid's belly.
Step 5
I used white beads for the shirt. Add two beads, and then three.
Step 6
To make the mermaid's arms, we'll thread six beads on each side. Thread the needles through the three beads closest to the body. Pull the arms closer if they are too far away from the main body.
Step 7
Continuing the shirt, we'll add four beads the same way we did before. The hair also starts here.
Step 8
Our mermaid is almost complete; just add the beads to make the mermaid’s face, eyes, and hair like shown above.
Tie a few knots, cut the excess yarn, and your Hama bead mermaid is complete!
There is a wide range of colors available, so you can try making different designs with different colors, patterns, and hairstyles.
