
The Ultimate Guide To Wood Carving Pattern Books and Inspiration
1. Why I Wrote My Own Book…
Chip Carving Essentials, Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Chip Carving
2. My Favorite Chip Carving Books
From Every Corner of The World

The Ultimate Guide To Wood Carving Pattern Books and Inspiration
To put together The Ultimate Guide To Wood Carving Pattern Books and Inspiration, I collected books from the best carvers and the best pattern makers, including tattoo artists. Have any comments, thoughts, or your own recommendations, let me know in the comments below.
1. Writing My Own Book
2. World-Class Carving Books By The World’s Best Carvers
Helmut Maier is the author of Kerbschnitzen

The Ultimate Guide To Wood Carving Pattern Books -Helmut Maier is the author of Kerbschnitzen (German and English in same book). ISBN 3-7724-1677-2, ©️1993
When you look at Helmut’s chip carving, immediately you notice his precision and mastery of back-to-back grid patterns composed of swirl, Gothic-like shapes. You’ll be equally impressed when you find out that his work is carved in oak. Oak is quite hard so a sharp knife and good technique are a must. And many of these oak carvings are not small! The second row, first image, each piece is 48″ x 8″. Also, he chip carves by holding the knife like a pen. He prefers this grip rather than holding the knife like we do because he says it is “easier to manage when work involves small circles, hard woods, large patterns, fine indentations and accurate inscriptions.”
Christian Rubli is the author of Das Kerbschnitzen,

Christian Rubli, ISBN 3-456-70073-3, ©️1987 (German)
Here are some pattern books I’ve found useful when it comes to generating ideas for chip carving.
Handbook of Designs and Devices, Hornung

ISBN: 100486201252
Pattern Design by Lewis Day
376 Decorative Allover Patterns from Historic Tilework and Textiles, by Charles Cahier and Arthur Martin
Historic Ornament- A Pictorial Archive By CB Griesbach
Great Book of Tattoo Designs, Lora Irish

ISBN-10 – 1565238133
A Treasury of Woodcarving Designs by Alan and Gill Bridgewater
Are you going to sell these books, or can you direct me to where I can purchase them? I would like the two German books. THANK YOU MUCH Paul
You’re in luck, all these books, except Marty’s, can be found on Amazon.
I’ll update my listing on Amazon! Thanks for pointing this out.