Can you believe it has been a year ago since we saw the first The Force Awakens Teaser?  I had no idea it had been that long… but the upload date for the teaser on YouTube is Nov. 28, 2014.  So it really has been a year since all us fans held our collective breaths for 84 seconds.

And we all gasped with excitement when John Boyega (in stormtrooper armor) popped into screen.  (Technically, it is of course not possible to gasp if you are holding your breath, but you know what I mean!)

The TV show Rebels has made it very clear that Stormtroopers are not clones, but  simply an army of recruits.  So we already knew that they are not Jango Fett clones.  But there were lots of other questions:  Who is he?  Why is he running?  Who is he running from?  …and, WHOA, there is a new stormtrooper helmet design!

(Then there were the “made up” controversies in social media, but I will not comment on those.  I refuse to feed the trolls,  Enough said!)

I plan on posting the new stormtrooper helmet next week.  Until then, here is Finn, the fourth of our TFA patterns, #32 in our Perler bead/cross-stitch/Lego/pixel/mosaic series.

One more thing, if you do decide to do shopping this week, please consider using our link for Amazon. You, using our Amazon Link, is how we can afford to keep this blog going. THANKS guys!

(NOTE:  We spent A LOT of time making these designs, and are absolutely thrilled to see that they are becoming so popular, but we want to remind you that we should get credit when they are used.  So, if you post your work using our designs anywhere online, please put a “Pattern © Anette Nam Design” and link to “Maythefourthbewithyouparty.com” somewhere close by. THANK YOU! … and as always, you may not sell any products made with these patterns.)

Needed if you make Perler Bead Coasters:

• Perler Beads
• Tweezers (optional)
• Perler Clear Pegboards
• Removable Tape
• Printout of Pattern (download above image)
• Iron
• Baking Parchment Paper (Perler Ironing Paper)
• Heavy Object with Flat Bottom
• Cork sheets with Adhesive Backs
• Scissors or X-acto Knife
• Glass
• Bantha Milk (optional)

How To:

• Download and print out the pattern provided (mirror it, if you only plan on ironing on only 1 side).
• Cut out, then tape pattern to the back of the Perler Pegboard so the dots line up with the pegs.
• Add the Perler beads (tweezers are pretty handy if you don’t have a 6 yr old’s tiny fingers).
• Carefully move pegboard to ironing board, place parchment (or Perler ironing paper) on top.
• Iron until the beads start melting together (If you have never done this before, it might take some practice to get it “just right”).
• Let cool for a bit, remove from Perler Pegboard and remove paper.
• Optional: turn over, cover with parchment paper and iron on other side. (put something solid and heat-proof underneath to make ironing easier)
• If you only iron on 1 side, place it under something flat and heavy while it cools, to avoid curving.
• Cut cork about 1/4” smaller than the square, affix to the back.
• Don’t forget the Bantha Milk. Enjoy!

Tips:

Usually people iron on both sides of the Perler bead design, but I prefer to only do the back. The designs look crisper and more “pixely”.  With the cork on the back, I have not had any problems with the coasters falling apart, but feel free to iron yours on both sides.

Note, if you only plan on iron on only 1 side, you need to mirror the pattern.

We designed these for a set of coasters, but you can use the patterns for lots of other things.

Also, the coasters are pretty hard to clean, so try not to get anything too gunky in there.

Get Supplies:

Perler Beads – Black
Perler Beads – White
Perler Beads – Light Brown
Perler Beads – Brown
Perler Beads – White
Perler Beads – Red
Perler Beads – Light Blue

Perler Beads Clear Square Pegboards 4 Pack
Perler Fun Fusion Ironing Paper 6/Pkg-
Darice Adhesive Backed Cork Tiles   (This is a bit thicker than what I used, but I can’t find the same kind I got)

Note:

Feel free to use these patterns for any personal use – but please do not sell items made with them.  Also, feel free to link to this blog so others can download the pattern, but do not download and then re-upload in order to offer them as downloads on your own site/blog. THANKS!