Once you have tried your hand at our Your First Project carving you may wish to go to our free Online Tutorials.  Here you will find a huge assortment of teaching pages with a variety of techniques that you will use over and over again in your new hobby.  

     Basics to Landscapes is an excellent choice for a second work as it will lead you through all the basics from tracing your pattern to applying a finishing coat to your wood.  This project also includes step-by-step instructions, photos, and ideas of how to change a pattern to create new designs. The basic steps that you learn through these pages can be used with any of our wood carving pattern packages.
   
   
   
WHAT TOOLS WILL I NEED TO START
   
     To begin relief wood carving you will need a basic set of tools that include gouges, chisels, and v-gouges plus a bench knife.  Please see The Beginner's Tool Kit to learn about the variety of tools available to the craft and their uses.  As your hobby grows you will need to add some sharpening stones and a hone to your kit.  Although most tools are sold pre-sharpened they will lose their cutting edge over time and use.
  
     Which set of basic tools you chose depends on your carving needs and what will lay comfortably in your hands.  Those that wish to work on large projects will tend to need the wider bladed tools.  For fine detailing chose a micro tool with their thinner blades.  The chose between long handled tools and palm tools is individual to each carver.  
  
     We do carry basic sets, bench knives, sharpening stones, and chip carving tools on our site, please visit Basic Carving Tools Sets
   
   
   
WHICH PATTERNS ARE BEST FOR BEGINNERS
   
     It has always been our suggestion that you chose patterns that interest you for your early carvings.  Some favorites of our patrons are Wood Quilt Squares, Farm Animal Folk Art, Simple and Realistic Flowers, White Tail Deer, Traditional Designs, Oak and Grape, and Assorted Patterns.  Each of these design packages contain patterns without extensive detailing or layer work, so are excellent for those just learning the craft.
     
     Again, you may wish to visit our Online Tutorials section as each lesson plan is complimented by a pattern package that can be used with that project.
   
  
  
WHERE DO I PURCHASE WOOD BLANKS
  
     Carving wood is sold in three forms, pre-routed blanks, pre-constructed shapes, and as lumber for those who do their own woodworking.  Please visit our links pages for on-line shops that sell carving woods, Woodworking Links.  Basswood is the dominant carving wood because of it's fine grain.  Also excellent for carving are Sugar Pine, Butternut, Mahogany, Walnut, and Oak.  Soft woods as basswood and Butternut accept a great deal of detailing where hard woods as Walnut and Oak usually are carved with a more general relief.
   
   
   
WHAT OTHER RESOURCE ARE ON THE WEB FOR BEGINNING CARVERS
     Woodworking Links
Our links page to woodworking suppliers, wood sources, and tool manufactures on the internet.
     Wood Carver's on the Web
Our links page to wood carver's websites.  You find great ideas, photos, techniques offered by wood carvers from beginner's work to master craftsmanship. 
     Fox Chapel Publishing
A great place to visit if you are looking for books of carving, scroll work, and other hobbies and crafts.
     Wood Carving Illustrated
A favorite carving magazine of ours!  Issued quarterly you will find step-by-step instructions, carving techniques, and lots of great ads for your browsing pleasure.
     Wood Carving Illustrated Message Board
An online forum that discusses wood carving, scroll saw work, and pyrography.
This is a great place to meet other online carvers.
     Wood Carvers Digest
An online e-mail digest where over '600 and counting' wood carver chat and share their ideas and experiences.  We highly recommend your joining!

Highly Recommended!