Every Halloween needs a vampire lurking somewhere, and this little beaded Dracula is ready to join the fun! With his black cape, pale gray face, white fangs, and a touch of red, he's a fun Halloween character to make with pony beads. This free Halloween pony bead pattern includes an illustrated bead diagram and step-by-step instructions to help you make your own beaded vampire.
Looking for Halloween bead crafts or more Halloween pony bead patterns? Dracula can hang among your Halloween decorations, become a handmade ornament, decorate a backpack, or keep your keys company. Make several Halloween characters and hang them together for a spooky garland, or add one to a little goblin's Halloween treat bag as a little handmade surprise.
There's always room for one more little creature at Halloween, especially one with a mischievous grin and a taste for the spooky side of things! Dracula might look perfectly innocent hanging among the decorations, but you never know what kind of mischief a little vampire might get into after dark. Just don't be surprised if he develops a taste for hanging around after Halloween!
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1 - Key Ring
OR
1 - Lanyard Hook
5 ft - Cording
There are lots of different types of cord you can use for your DIY Halloween vampire. I usually use a cord about 1 1/2mm to 2mm thick because it helps your beaded Dracula keep his shape. Alternatively, you can use a thinner cord and weave a little wire or a pipe cleaner into your vampire for extra support. Either method works, so experiment to see which you prefer.
40 - Black Pony Beads
27 - Gray Pony Beads
(a pale purple would work great here too.)
2 - White Pony Beads
2 - Red Pony Beads
3 - Clear Pony Beads
Scissors
Ruler or Measuring Tape
Glue (We used super glue.)
1. Cut a piece of cord or lacing approximately 5 feet long. Attach it to your key ring or lanyard hook using a lark's head knot, as shown in the illustration below. Adjust the cord so you have two ends of equal length.
2. Start with a row of 3 clear pony beads. These beads aren't really part of Dracula's head, so we're using clear beads to help them sort of blend in and be ignored. This is a little beading hack I discovered along the way. Starting with a wide row of beads can make the top of a keychain curl, but adding a smaller row of clear beads first helps prevent that problem without becoming a noticeable part of your vampire craft.
3. Using the Dracula bead diagram below, continue weaving the rows of beads. Thread one cord through the beads for the next row, then pass the other cord through those same beads from the opposite direction. Pull both cords gently until the new row rests against the previous row. Continue following the diagram until all the rows are complete.
4. When you've finished the last row, your two cord ends will be on opposite sides of Dracula. Thread one cord back through the previous row of beads so both cords end up on the same side. Tie the ends together with a double knot or surgeon's knot, add a small drop of glue to secure the knot, and trim the excess cord after the glue has dried.
5. Your beaded Dracula vampire is ready for Halloween! Hang him among your decorations, turn him into a handmade ornament, add him to a backpack, or let him tag along on your keychain.
If you prefer working with smaller beads, you can also use the same diagram with smaller beads and a thinner cord. The finished vampire will be smaller, but the weaving method remains the same.
Looking for more Halloween themed beaded critters? Here are a few more patterns to try.
Make a collection of Halloween pony bead characters and string them together for an easy handmade Halloween garland.
