The short answer: yes, but only with patience. The tape-on-grid method works well: stick tape over a printed grid, place beads on the grid lines, then iron the whole thing from the back. Simple freehand shapes also work. Everything else is easier on a board.
A pegboard exists for one reason: it holds beads in a perfect grid so they do not roll away while you work. Without it, you are replacing that job with your hands and your eyes. It is doable, just slower.
Methods that work without a pegboard
- Tape over a printed grid: print your pattern or any grid paper, lay tape over it with the sticky side up, place beads along the grid lines, and iron from the back. The beads fuse to each other, not to the tape.
- Freehand small shapes: hearts, flowers, and small pixel art work fine without a grid if you keep the rows tight.
- Store-bought grid trays: craft stores sell grid trays that hold beads loosely. They work, but the grid is coarser than peg spacing.
When a pegboard is worth it
Anything bigger than a few dozen beads, any pattern with straight edges, and any project with children gets noticeably easier on a real board. Beads sit at the exact same height, rows stay straight, and patterns transfer without guesswork. Our beginner patterns are all sized for one standard board, and the pattern library tells you which board each design needs. If you are not sure a board is worth it, try the tape method once on a simple pattern. Most people buy a board after that first try.