500 Patterns for Woodworking, Laser Cutting, and General Crafting

by Fred Arndt

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

500 Patterns for Woodworking, Laser Cutting, and General Crafting is precisely as advertised: 500 ornament patterns drawn and curated by Fred Arndt. Released 17th Dec. 2024 by Fox Chapel, it's 152 pages and is available in paperback format.

This book is full of a wide variety of small ornaments/decorations which are aimed at precision digital aided cutting tools (laser and digital cutters such as Cricut) and to a lesser degree fine scroll saws. The author has included a *very* short chapter on cutting tool use in conjunction with these patterns, but it is by no means sufficient to learn how to use them (or even choose them) safely or wisely according to the reader's needs. 

The patterns themselves are varied and arranged thematically: holiday, winter, stars, hearts & flowers, fun in the sun, animals, hobbies, automotive, science fiction, miscellaneous shapes & objects, and words.Templates are full size and quite detailed (see cover). 

All the templates have a punch/hole/hanger incorporated into the pattern. The author/publisher have also included a detailed index for quickly finding specific items. It's a large and varied collection, and especially some of the more esoteric science fiction and automotive themed ornaments are generic on the "not actionable from a legal standpoint" but clearly recognizable. 

This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for the home hobbyist, for activity and makers' groups, for collective studios, and for crafters who enjoy selling at craft shows. The legal disclaimers contained in the book specify that readers can use them for personal use (but that copyright law forbids the *patterns* from being repackaged and sold, obviously). 

Five stars, given the limitations of the instruction contained within, it's a great and varied selection of patterns.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.