Yoda is a dichotomy.  Child-like yet wise.  Small yet powerful.  A puppet, yet in many ways the most real and relatable character in the Star Wars universe.  

He is also the only character that is (almost universally) loved by the absolute youngest fans, as well as the oldest.  The really young’uns are scared or don’t connect to most other characters.  The characters they do love, Jar Jar and the Ewoks, many adults can’t stand.  But Yoda is different,  and I think it is precisely because of the opposites he embodies.

As a child you see someone a little goofy, talks funny, is about your size,  and who turns out to be the master, really powerful and that everyone listens to (except Anakin of course).  As an adult you see someone who has great responsibilities, wisdom, respect, but has never lost his sense of wonder and adventure… AND who gets to have one of the most kickass lightsaber fights ever (against Count Dooku).   We can all relate to him, and maybe even want to be him.

Or maybe, just maybe, it all due to the brilliance of Frank Oz.

So with that dichotomy in mind, Yoda was the hardest to fit into the parameters we established for our patterns.  He is the smallest,  yet he just does not fit the standard sized square well.  There were no colors that accurately represent him.  In our mind’s eyes he is greener than he actually looks on screen.  And since we always use the lightsaber color as the background… there is a just a lot of green.  Still, it wouldn’t be a complete set without him, so here he is, #56 in the Perler bead/cross stitch/crochet/knitting/Lego/pixel/mosaic pattern series.

• 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 – Kiwi Lime
Perler Beads – Dark Green
Perler Beads – Rust

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!