What is another popular and inexpensive type of carving pattern that is already laid out?

The popular and inexpensive type of carving pattern that is already laid out is best described as templates. Templates are physical patterns made from materials such as cardboard, plastic, or even metal that provide a guide for carving shapes and designs into wood. They help ensure that the design is consistent and precise, which is particularly important in woodworking where accuracy can significantly affect the final outcome.

While stencils, decals, and transfer paper can also be used in various artistic applications, they serve different functions. Stencils create outlines for painting or airbrushing rather than carving, decals are typically used for surface decoration and are not meant for carving into material, and transfer paper is used to transfer designs onto surfaces rather than serving as a structural guide for carving. Templates focus on enabling the user to replicate a design directly onto the material by tracing or cutting along predetermined lines, making them valued tools in woodworking for producing intricate and accurate carvings efficiently.