Woodworking patterns are extremely fun to work with. With these your furniture can be one of a kind, and your guests will definitely want to know where you got such a beautiful design. You’d be proud to say you’ve created it all by yourself!

Wooden patterns are basically achieved by a method called inlaying. This method involves decorating a surface with materials differing in color or substance. Wood is an excellent medium for inlaying since it comes in so many colors, grains and textures.

A very popular form of wood inlaying is intarsia. The result of intarsia is very dramatic and adds character to any furniture, especially cabinetry. Using this form of inlaying is like creating a picture or pattern on a surface. Instead of using paint, we use wood.

Intarsia is basically putting wood together to create surface designs. You often start off with sections of wood that are somewhat contrasting. The contrast makes the design appear as though it is 3-Dimensional, or having the illusion of space on an otherwise flat surface. Each section may be shaped or cut differently to emulate form and space. The wooden sections are then combined and arranged within a solid matrix.

Color is one of the most outstanding features of intarsia. Today we use various kinds of wood to create different effects. This is in contrast to using dyes and stains. Pieces of wood are cut into unique shapes, sanded and fitted together like a puzzle. By doing this you can create geometrical woodworking patterns to landscapes to portraits! You can even raise some pieces to create more texture and the illusion of depth.

To get started, you’ll first need to visit a supplier. You may contact a community college or hardware store to ask about certain tools and where you can get them. Sometimes there are free seminars and classes provided by these establishments, so drop by one and ask where you can get the best tools and other materials to make woodworking patterns.

The next thing to do is to choose the right materials. Get to know the different kinds of wood to experiment with. Basswood, butternut and aspen are great mediums to practice on for beginners. Butternut comes in a brown color while basswood and aspen come in a lighter, whitish shade. You may combine these woods to add some depth to woodworking patterns.  Don’t be tempted to use second-hand or found pieces of wood, since their grain, color or overall appearance may be discouraging in the end. To find out more about materials, ask crafts shop and hardware store staff for free catalogs.

All you need to get started with is some basic tools. You’ll need to practice carving first before doing any serious project. You can start with no. 11 carving blades or standard wood carving knife, along with a special hammer, handsaw and sandpaper (ask staff about the appropriate ones to use). Once you’ve practiced using those tools for sometime you’ll gradually look for newer tools. This is because you would have already improved your skills and wanted to try other woodcarving techniques. Make sure all your tools are sharp to prevent splinters and physical injury.

Making woodcarving patterns isn’t that difficult. It just takes some practice. Woodworking classes can definitely help you out with the technicalities. When you’re ready to start with your first project, there are hundreds of free patterns, templates and advice online. Start with simple patterns like geometrical ones, and then work your way up with more challenging patterns like irregularly shaped drawings.