Scroll Saw Village

Here’s a fun project for the little reader in your life. This child’s bookend pattern is provided by Reader’s Digest. It certainly is a quick project and perfect for beginners. They take you step by step through the process of building this cute teddy bear bookend. I’d suggest taking the pattern grid and enlarging it to the appropriate size with a graphics program or a photocopier. That way you don’t have to redraw anything. And since the teddy bears have a retro/folk art feel, try distressing the wood with sandpaper after you are done painting. It will certainly enhance the end product.

Here’s a great pattern from the folks at Berry Basket with their sister site, Great American Scroll Saw Patterns. They are offering 7 free patterns. This is a zip download. Inside you’ll find 2 PDF’s for easy printing. The first PDF is of 5 Victorian shelf designs. The second PDF has 2 deer mini clock designs. Each PDF includes detailed instructions to get you on your way. Now you have several great projects lined up for the weekend! Not enough for ya? They also have a collection of over 1,800 scroll saw patterns in one simple download! The price is a steal! I almost feel guilty for taking them up on their amazing offer. But I’ll get over it!

Here’s a fun project for a cabin, hunting lodge, or a rustic bedroom. The project is provided by AOK Corral Craft & Gift Bazaar. It’s pretty simple and can easily be completed in an afternoon. The project calls for leather to be used for the bear and trees, but you can easily substitute wood. I think it would be a clever way to frame cuttings with rustic feel such as wildlife, Native Americans, cowboys, or scenic designs. Check it out. While you’re there, take a look at their other craft patterns. There’s a few in there for woodworkers too!

Now that you have a taste for vintage scroll saw patterns, Pedro from Fine Scroll Saw has a treat for you! He has nearly 100 free vintage patterns scanned. Each pattern is presented in PDF format for easy printing. Remember these patterns are antiques, so there may be wrinkles or tears on the originals which will show up on the scan. This may skew your results a little, but a little hand work should be able to get you back on track in no time. If you’d rather have it completely restored pattern, Pedro has a number of patterns he has meticulously redrawn and offers them for sale at a very reasonable price. These patterns are beautiful and would make a great addition to your home. Not only does he offer a multitude of scanned and restored patterns, but he also has a couple of historical books he has scanned which is very interesting. Take a look and be sure to browse his site. He has so many wonderful things to look at.

Add a touch of elegance with this free Victorian Mirror pattern from Mike at Scrollcrafters. The pattern is in JPG format for easy scaling, and it gives lumber dimensions to take the guess work out. He also has a overlay guide so you know exactly how to glue the pieces on. Using 2 contrasting species of wood would really make this elegant pattern stand out. Take a look. While you’re there, take a look at some Mike’s work. He has a nice product line of finished scroll sawn pieces. He also has a few patterns for scrollers available for sale too.

New scroll techniques and styles are always popping up. We’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what we can do with this great tool. But instead of constantly looking forward, what about looking backwards for a bit? The scroll saw (fret saw) has been around for centuries. What was popular back then?

Richard Preator of Peculiar Fretworks has been preserving and restoring vintage scroll saw patterns from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. He finds old patterns from antique magazines and books, and carefully scans and restores each pattern. He makes these patterns available through his website. He has a lot of projects to choose from, from furniture to picture frames. He also has several free restored patterns he has made available! Take a look. And be sure to take some time to browse through his site. He has some really great stuff.

You can’t really mention intarsia without thinking of Judy Gale Roberts. She has been on the forefront of intarsia since the 70’s and has written numerous books and articles about the subject. Her website has a lot of great stuff, that it’s hard to pick just one to talk about in this article. So I’m gunna jump right in and highlight a few.

First, she has a couple of free intarsia patterns. We all like free stuff, right? She offers a whale pattern which is quite nice. But I really like her Santa Teddy bear. Christmas seems so far off, but this Teddy bear is such a great pattern, it’s hard to pass up. So definitely take a look.

Second, check out her newsletter/catalog Intarsia Times. She has several great articles in each issue, along with the patterns available she has available for sale. Intarsia Times is distributed in PDF format with a hefty download weighing in at 15.8 Megs! But don’t worry, you can request the catalog be sent to your home if you can’t handle the bandwidth. You can also find back issues of Intarsia Times here.

If you are looking to learn intarsia from the masters, check out their classes. 3 full days of intarsia goodness, complete with Jerry’s famous BBQ. You’ll walk away with a full belly and some mad intarsia skills. But sign up soon, because their classes are filling up quickly.

So, take a look around Judy’s website. There’s plenty of stuff to look at. Check out their patterns too. They do some amazing work! If nothing else, it’ll provide the inspiration for your next project.

G’day Mate. Looking for some Aussie art for the wall? This free intarsia pattern from Fantastic WoodWorking is a sure fit. To get a hold of this great pattern, plus 2 other free patterns, just fill in your email and the link to the pattern will be sent your way in no time. The pattern is provided in PDF format for easy printing. It includes detailed instructions and photos showing you every step of the process. When you sign up, you’ll also get an informative newsletter, full of tips, articles and updates. While you’re there, check out their other patterns they have available. They’re nicely organized by skill level, so you don’t get in over your head. Check it out!

Ready to rock the intarsia world? Here’s a fun little project that will do just that. This free intarsia rocker is designed by Shawn Lloyd of Intarsia Plans. It is presented in PDF format for easy printing. The design is also ‘exploded’ for easy placement on your wood. No more spending valuable time breaking the pattern apart! Give this fun and easy pattern a go. While you’re there, check out his other patterns. He has a nice selection of easy and whimsical intarsia patterns to choose from.

Need a jump start to get you started with intarsia? Garnet Hall of SawBird Intarsia has a few patterns to get you on your way. He is offering 3 free patterns that progress in difficulty. Each pattern is presented in JPG format for easy scaling. He also includes wood recommendations for each project, most of which can be found at home improvement centers.

So if you’re new to the world of intarsia, or a veteran looking for a quick project, check these patterns out. While you’re there, take a look at his other offerings. He has a lot of great patterns to choose from, intarsia kits to get you going, and accessories you’ll be wanting to add to your shop!