Wood carving can be a great hobby, and it’s easier than many people think. The key is to begin simply. Some basic tools are required, but it may not be necessary to purchase them outright. You may have the opportunity to share tools owned by your local school or wood working club. At Buzzle.com you can find good, basic, educational articles on beginning woodcarving.

The problem then becomes one of deciding what to carve. It may be difficult, especially for a beginner to come up with designs from the imagination. But there are any number of carving designs to use as a pattern, and many nice ones can be obtained for free, or at very low cost.

Chip carving is the easiest, creating geometric patterns. Small strips of wood are chipped out in straight lines. Slightly more difficult, simple flower or decorative carving designs such as shells or filigree are possible for most anyone to master.

Several web sites offer instruction in the basics of wood carving, and many of them supply free carving designs. The National Woodcarving School has several flowers and a chip pattern for a coaster. The Bone Studio offers Maori patters. Classic Carving Patterns supplies several flowers and architectural motifs, and one can order additional patterns from them at reasonable prices. Nora Hall carving designs are well known for their classic beauty, and these can be ordered at www.norahall.com.

After giving a few of these free wood carving design patterns a try, you may find that you’re hooked. As you gain skill and proficiency in this hobby, you’ll find many uses for your unique creations.

Photo Credit: hoyasmeg on flickr