-- Last updated on December 14th, 2022 --

As a scroll sawer, you will almost certainly need to use a pattern at some point. The great thing is that there are thousands and thousands of scroll saw patterns readily available from various sources. Many are even available for free. We offer a few ideas for scroll saw patterns and where to find them.

Scroll saw patterns can be found in magazines and books however the easiest place to find them in this modern age is on the internet.

I will introduce you to a few of my favorite pattern makers and their websites. Once you choose the right pattern, you can immediately start making beautiful scroll saw projects today. And the best part is, there are lots of patterns that are absolutely free.

What is Scroll Saw Pattern?

A scroll saw pattern is a design that you can print out on regular paper and then attach it to a piece of wood. Once attached by using adhesive of some type, it is used as a guide when cutting the project out. It is similar to a pattern used for sewing or a coloring page.

Where to Find Scroll Saw Patterns?

Books and Magazines

Woodworking and craft magazines are a good place to find patterns. For instance, I subscribe to the Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine. This is an excellent quarterly magazine dedicated to scroll sawing. It includes information about new products, tips and tricks, and the patterns for some of the featured articles.

Other woodworking and craft magazines may also have patterns and plans included in them.

Books are another source of scroll saw patterns. You can find these anywhere books and magazines are sold or even in your local library. Walmart, for instance, has many scroll saw and woodworking books such as Big Book of Intarsia Woodworking available on their website.

Another great book for new scroll saw artists is the Scroll Saw Workbook, 3rd Edition by John Nelson and can be found on Amazon. This book goes through 25 exercises that will help you learn scroll sawing techniques.

Some other good sources for scroll saw patterns can be from old books found at yards sales, library book sales, or used book stores. Some of these old books could be out of print by the time you find it which makes the patterns found within them more uncommon.

Internet Websites

There are countless websites that offer scroll saw patterns for sale and for free. Some of these websites are dedicated to just scroll saw related topics while other websites are for general woodworking and other topics.

I have also found a lot of valuable scroll saw information including some patterns on general woodworking websites even though the site itself had nothing at all to do with scroll sawing.

Most of the dedicated scroll saw websites will have patterns available for purchase or some even offer patterns for free.

Here is a list of some of my favorite Scroll Saw Websites.

Free Scroll Saw Patterns

I love free things and that also includes scroll saw patterns. I have compiled a list of the Top 50 Free Scroll Saw Patterns available online and a sequel to that called More Free Scroll Saw Patterns.
The patterns that are listed on these pages will range from beginner to intermediate skill level.

Social Media

Facebook, MeWe, Pinterest, and Youtube are just a few of the social media sites you can find scroll saw patterns and related information.

For instance, by using Facebook you can search “scroll saw patterns” to find many groups. I belong to several of these scroll saw groups on the Facebook platform. They have been very helpful to me while I was learning how to scroll and even now. I have even made friends with some of the members of the groups.

Pinterest is another source I have used to find scroll saw patterns with many boards to choose from. Technically, Pinterest is not just social media; rather, it is also a search engine using images and videos. There is a lot of information to be found on this platform. Keep this in mind as it may take some time to learn how to sift through it all.

You can also find scroll saw patterns and ideas from videos that are produced by some of the various woodworking magazines. YouTube can be a great source for instructional videos for DIY pattern making.

Design Your Own Patterns

You can design your own patterns using free software such as Gimp, and Inkscape. Other software that you can use include CorelDRAW, Microsoft Word, Publisher, etc.

The sky is the limit when designing your own patterns. You can learn everything you need to know about the different software programs by using YouTube and visiting the content author’s websites.

It doesn’t take long to learn how to create your own designs. In fact, if you follow along with the videos you can make a pattern in just a few hours.

For scroll saw patterns specifically, there are several YouTube channels that are very helpful. Steve Good and Scroll Saw Goodies are two of the YouTube channels offering videos geared toward making scroll saw patterns. I have learned a lot from just these two channels alone and they have been extremely helpful to me.

When you learn to design your own patterns, other options then become available. For instance, you can take a photo and turn it into a scroll saw portrait. This would make your projects truly one of a kind. You can watch an entire tutorial of creating a scroll saw portrait pattern using GIMP on the Scroll Saw Goodies YouTube channel.

What Type of Scroll Saw Patterns are Available?

Listed here is just a few types of scroll saw patterns that are available:

• Christmas
• Easter
• Thanksgiving
• Birthday
• Wedding
• Graduation
• Valentine’s Day
• Mother’s Day
• Crosses
• Business cardholders
• Trivets
• Jewelry boxes
• Dollhouse furniture
• Decorative shelves
• Cell phone holders
• Chess pieces
• Clock patterns.

The list could go on for days. There is a scroll saw pattern available for just about any occasion imaginable.

How to Apply Scroll Saw Patterns to the Wood.

Once upon a time, a very smart individual came up with a great idea. Use packing tape to hold the pattern on the wood. Using tape seemed to lubricate the blade. As a result, it kept the blade cooler and reduced burning the wood. It also prolonged the life of the blade. Most of us have been using this method ever since.

There are a few different ways to do this.

Packing Tape Method

My favorite way to apply a pattern is by using the packing tape method. To do this, glue the pattern to the wood using a spray adhesive. I like to use 3M Super 77 Multipurpose Spray Adhesive available at big box stores such as Amazon, Home Depot, and also at Walmart. Spray the back of the pattern lightly and wait for a few seconds so that it becomes tacky.

When all the holes have been drilled, lightly sand the bottom of the project. Do this just in case there is any blowout that still exists from the drilling process. This helps prevent your project from getting stuck on the table insert while cutting.

Painter’s Tape Method

Another popular way to apply a pattern is to first cover the wood with blue painter’s tape or contact paper. Spray the adhesive to the pattern and attach the pattern as you normally would. Using contact paper is especially helpful when you have a large project. Using this method will make it much easier to remove the pattern when you have finished cutting since there is very little glue residue left.

Stick N’ Release Scroll Saw Tape Method

An additional method is to use a product called “Stick N’ Release” Scroll Saw Tape. It is a two-sided adhesive that comes in 20 x 8 1/2 inch rolls. You apply it to the wood and then apply your pattern on top.

I cannot comment on this product since I have not yet had the opportunity to try it for myself.

There is a product review for this tape on the Scrollsaw Woodworking & Crafts magazine.
https://scrollsawer.com/2016/11/09/product-review-scroll-saw-tape/

You can find this particular brand on Workshop Supply’s website and it is also available on Amazon.

Carbon Paper Transfer

This method is simply using carbon paper to trace the pattern on to the wood. I have used this method in the past when I just needed a quick and basic pattern and it was not readily available in a file that could be printed.

Place your pattern on the wood, Put carbon paper under the pattern and trace it with a sharp pencil.

This method is not very efficient and is a lot of work and very time-consuming.

Laser Printer Method

This method is a bit more complicated and a lot messier. I have not found it to be very useful for applying scroll saw patterns; however, I wanted to include this as an option.

I do not use this method to transfer scroll saw patterns; although it does work great for transferring an image to the wood. The tape method is way more efficient, in my opinion.

To use this method, you print your pattern with a laser printer. You will need to reverse the image before printing. Place your pattern on the wood. Using a rag or paper towel, apply a very light coat of lacquer thinner or xylene to the pattern until it soaks through the paper.

After waiting for at least 2 minutes, you burnish (to rub (a material) with a tool for compacting or smoothing) the pattern on to the wood. I use the back of a spoon. This process basically melts the toner onto the wood creating the transfer it as it melts.

You will still need to use tape to keep the blade from burning the wood

Conclusion

I believe that scroll saw patterns are a very necessary part of scroll sawing. While it is possible to cut out a project freehand, it would be a very difficult task, especially for new scrollers.

There are countless sources where you can purchase scroll saw patterns inexpensively or you can also obtain them for free. Either way, both are widely available from a multitude of sources including magazines, books and most abundantly on the internet.

Applying the scroll saw pattern is also an easy process. Once you apply the pattern, the most enjoyable part of the scroll saw hobby can begin.

I hope this has been helpful and you have enjoyed your visit. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments section below.

While you are here, check out some of our other pages for information on
Top 50 Free Scroll Saw Patterns
More Free Scroll Saw Patterns
Scroll Saw Blades
Tips and Tricks
Scroll Saw Websites

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Thank You and Keep on Scrolling

Scroll Saw Pattern FAQs