Drawing a Pattern on Wood

[Rezbar]

Maybe this is not the Columbus' Egg. An old (80 years) wood carver and teacher told me that he teaches his students - before they draw a pattern on wood for a relief - to put 3 tacks triangle-wise in one of the lower corners. If the case, another one may be put on the opposite upper corner. The reason is that in this way, they can verify, just removing the the carbon paper, but without moving the pattern, if all the needed lines have been marked.

[Just Carving]

I usually fold the top edge of the pattern so that it hangs over the top of the wood. Then once I have the pattern where I want it to be, I put 3 tacks across the top edge of the board to hold the folded edge in place. Now I can lift the pattern up to look to see if I have transferred all of the line, redraw lines from the pattern as I carve wood away, flip the pattern up and out of the way while I am carving, and leave the pattern on the wood while it is a work in progress to keep it free of dust, dirt, etc.

Bob L

[Donsexton]

Sounds like the best way to do it to me.

[Claude]

I've also used ordinary masking tape to hold the pattern to the wood along one edge.

Claude

[Robson Valley]

I've drawn/traced templates on thin cardboard, index marks of some sort on the block. Outline first, then gradually cut up the template to add all other lines.

[Ed N]

I carv in the round mostly, not too much reliefe carving but I always make a few copies of my pattern and use remount cement (spray glue) to attach a copy. I then cut right through the paper and wood together. I can see this idea will not work on relief but it's just my two cents if someone else is carving in the round.
I also some times use the remount cement / glue and then use my wood burner to burn right through the paper and on to the wood. Now this may work on relief.. Plus you will know exactly which lines you did not burn (trace).

[Shimmy]

I use just carbon paper.and use a red pen .that way you can see if you miss a line.