(Mild spoilers) When the previews of The Force Awakens came out I thought that our original X-Wing pattern was going to be close enough to use for The Force Awakens as well.  Oops, my bad!  The design is close-ish.  Without getting too technical, the wings are slightly different, the engines now split in 2, and the proportions are a bit different.  (You can see detailed photos of the differences here.)

They are also more colorful.  There are 2 base colors: Light Grey and Dark Grey/Black.   The light version seems come with either Red or Blue accents (Red and Blue Squads).

    

So far the dark one seems to be a one-off, personalized ship.  Poe gets the it after he totaled his first one.  According to Wookieepedia, Commander Poe Dameron (who at that point is the leader of both the Red and Blue Squadrons) got his call name “Black Leader” from this second black plane.

    

• 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 heatproof 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.

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 – Orange
Perler Beads – Dark Grey
Perler Beads – (Light) Grey
Perler Beads – Kiwi Lime
Perler Beads – Cheddar
Perler Beads – Light Blue
Perler Beads – Pastel 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!