Oh, Pokémon… If there’s one theme that gets the whole house cheering, it’s this one! Between my kids, who know every evolution by heart, and me, forever a sucker for a little Eevee, I’ve lost count of the rainy afternoons we’ve spent turning our favourites into pixels. And here’s the thing — fuse beads were basically made for this. Today I’m taking you on a hunt for a dozen-plus Pokémon, peg by peg, bead by bead. Grab your pegboards and let’s go!
Why Pokémon work so beautifully in fuse beads
Take a close look at an old Game Boy sprite and you’ll get it right away: the early Pokémon are already pixel art! Every little square on screen matches exactly one bead on your pegboard. In other words, a Pokémon grid is a ready-made recipe — one square equals one bead, and you’re done. That’s exactly why I always steer beginners towards this theme: you get a jaw-dropping result without any headache.
Family favourites: Pikachu, Eevee and Togepi
Let’s start with the stars everyone asks for first. Pikachu, of course! With a square pegboard and five colours (yellow, black, red, brown and a touch of white), you’ll finish him in under an hour. He’s THE model for a first win.
Then it’s impossible to resist Eevee and those big soft ears. Its beige-and-brown tones are great for learning to play with close shades. And for the little ones, my heart goes to Togepi: round, few beads, a guaranteed success that always gets a smile.
Source: these lovely patterns come from Nerd Craftopia — thank you for the inspiration!
Keep collecting: Bulbasaur, Cubone and Ninetales
A Pokédex without Bulbasaur? Unthinkable! Its green bulb gives you lovely areas to fill in — perfect for a rainy afternoon. Cubone brings a more offbeat vibe with its little skull, a model that goes down a treat with slightly older kids.
Fancy a proper weekend project? Take on Ninetales and its nine tails: bigger, more detailed, it takes a little patience — but what a payoff once it’s sitting on the shelf!
Source: these lovely patterns come from Nerd Craftopia — thank you for the inspiration!
Aiming for legendaries: Mew and Zapdos
Time to level up with the legendaries. Mew, all pink and delicate, stays surprisingly beginner-friendly and makes a perfect little gift. Zapdos, the bird of lightning, calls for more yellow and black beads: stock up, because the finished effect is spectacular.
Source: these lovely patterns come from Nerd Craftopia — thank you for the inspiration!
The Poké Ball, the finishing touch
No collection is complete without a Poké Ball! It’s the clever little extra: quick, easy on the beads, and it turns any single make into a proper set. And for total beginners, I’ve put together a simple homemade grid — just follow it square by square, row by row, and watch your very first Poké Ball appear like magic.
A video to get you started
If you’re just starting out and you’d rather see the technique in action, this short video walks you through turning a Pokémon design into a bead picture step by step. A great confidence boost before you dive into our patterns!
Want to go further?
If all this pixel goodness has given you a taste for retro, take a look at our video-game special: it’s packed with sprites to recreate. And once your Pokémon are done, head over to our ideas for turning them into home décor and handy little accessories — keyrings, frames, magnets… so much to make!
That’s plenty to fill a lovely bead Pokédex! Feel free to mix sizes, frame your favourites or turn them into keyrings to give away. And above all, have fun — that’s what it’s all about. See you very soon for another selection! — Léa
