EZGlassPattern · Beginner patternsWhat makes a stained glass pattern good for beginners?

Drop any pattern to see how hard it is to cut, or drop a photo and use the Beginner preset to make one that suits a first project.

Photos never leave your device. The check runs in your browser.

Answer in 30 seconds

A beginner pattern has fewer than about 30 to 40 fairly large pieces, mostly straight lines and gentle outside curves, and no sharp inside corners, deep inside curves or tiny pieces. The difficulty score in EZGlassPattern tells you how close a pattern is to that.

Large pieces: easier to hold, score and grind.
Straight lines and gentle curves: glass wants to break straight.
No problem shapes: no inside corners, no pieces inside pieces, no slivers.

Beginner pattern checklist

Every line runs edge to edge — no lines that stop in the middle.
No sharp inside corners — each V-notch has a line through it.
Curves are gentle — no bays deeper than they are wide.
No tiny pieces — every piece is big enough to hold against the grinder.
Few lines per junction — three lines meeting is ideal; avoid five or six.
Modest size — something like 8 to 12 inches for a first suncatcher or panel.

Key takeaways

Straight lines first — a geometric panel teaches scoring and breaking before curves.
Copper foil is forgiving — it suits small first projects; lead came suits larger flat panels.
Check before you cut — the difficulty score tells you how much of a pattern needs careful work.
Buy spare glass — about 10 to 20% extra covers mistakes while you learn.

A real pattern made by the engine from a photo of a sunflower against a blue sky, in amber and blue glass: numbered pieces in glass colours, with the cuts the checker flagged circled in red and orange. — A real pattern made from a photo, with its cut-check flags and suggested fixes.

Make a beginner pattern from a photo

Drop a photo and choose the Beginner preset. It keeps the piece count low and merges small areas into larger pieces, then the cut check flags anything left that a first-timer would struggle with. A simple subject (a flower, a leaf, a bird outline) works much better than a busy scene.

What to avoid in your first pattern

Sharp inside corners: they can't be cut in one piece. See impossible cuts.
Deep inside curves: they need grozing pliers and patience.
Long thin strips: they snap on the break or on the grinder.
Lettering: almost every letter has an inside corner or a piece inside a piece.

Teaching a class

If you prepare patterns for students, check each one at the size they'll build, so nobody discovers an impossible piece halfway through the evening. A Project Pass ($5, 30 days) covers unlimited printable packets for a run of classes.

Frequently asked questions

How many pieces should a beginner stained glass pattern have?

A first project usually works best with somewhere around 10 to 40 pieces, depending on size. Fewer, larger pieces are easier to cut and grind.

Should a beginner use copper foil or lead came?

Copper foil suits small first projects like suncatchers; lead came suits larger flat panels. See our copper foil vs lead came comparison.

What shapes are hardest to cut?

Sharp inside corners, deep inside curves, long thin strips and pieces completely surrounded by another piece.

Can I check a pattern I bought or downloaded?

Yes. Drop it in (as PDF, JPG, PNG, WebP or SVG) and you'll get the cut check and a difficulty score, free.

How much extra glass should a beginner buy?

About 10 to 20% more than the pattern needs, to cover breaks while you learn.

The check is free. Pay once when you print.

No account and no card for the cut check. A Project Pass is $5 one-time for 30 days of printable pattern packets, with no subscription. Lifetime covers everything, forever.

See pricing