Because working with carving wood, carving tools, knives, and other materials inherently includes the risk of injury and damage, this project cannot guarantee that creating this project is safe for everyone and is distributed without warranties or guarantees of any kind. The publisher and author disclaim any liability for any injury. (Standard Disclaimer!)
Keep your tools and knife sharp. Dull tools will grab or dig into the wood causing you to apply extra pressure to complete the cutting stroke. That pressure can make the tool unexpectedly slip out of the wood.
If you are working from your lap using a leather apron or folded thick towel both to secure your wood as well as protect yourself.
Use a two handed grip on your tool wherever possible. Your dominate hand holds the tool to the wood while your non-dominate hand guides the cut.
Place the tools that you are not currently using in plain sight. It is easy to cut your hand or finger rooting through a tool kit.
OK … tomorrow, Tues., Feb. 3rd, I will post the pattern work for this project.