Projects and Plans

Free Download: Gimson Chest Carving Pattern

Gimson used simple, decorative carving and motifs drawn from rural forms in much of his work. Just a handful of layout and carving tools will yield beautiful results.

By Nancy R. Hiller Feb 07, 2020

**Lay out the design.** Carefully draw the design directly on the front panel. Hiller uses dividers and a square to mark out and then draw the straight lines. She uses carbon paper to trace her drawings onto the wood.

This is an excerpt from Nancy’s article Arts and Crafts Chest in Fine Woodworking issue #281

To download the pattern, please click the View PDF button below.

To begin, mark a line parallel to the taper to guide the thumbnail carving at each side. Use dividers to lay out the center point of each thumbnail. Clamp the workpiece to the bench and cut the pattern with a #9-15mm gouge and a mallet.

While you’re at it with the gouging, lay out the smaller thumbnail pattern along the arch on each of the sides and cut them the same way using a #9-7mm or #9-8mm gouge and mallet.

**Cut the repeating peak shapes.** First use a knife and straightedge to mark the sides parallel to the peaks. Then use a chisel to slowly approach the depth you want, leaving the apex of the peak sharp and crisp.

**Carve the letters, numbers, and designs.** Take special care with the outlines that are parallel to the grain; these are especially challenging because your V-chisel will want to follow the grain instead of your line.

Lay out your pattern for the carved field on the front panel with care and carve the letters, numerals, and other motifs with gouges and chisels. (For more on this technique, see “The ABCs of Letter Carving” by Clark Kellogg, FWW #275)

To download the pattern, please click the View PDF button below.

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