The following are a few original patterns and some of my own. One of the best things that I have found to use as a practice item is aluminum. Use either a blue or black magic marker or metal blue die-chem. Then you can lay out the pattern. To lay out the pattern I use a flexible metal 6 inch ruler and a scribe.
Patterns can be of a geometric type or of a specific item.
I have found that jewelers files work well but must be of a good quality, also chain saw files work very well for the round cuts and they come in two sizes. During the class I actually demonstrated file work doing a Wrap-Around Rope pattern on the spine of a folder blade thus no need for a nail nick as the bottom edges of the rope acted as a nail nick for either the right or left hand. Also you will need to cut away from some of the points without actually cuffing into the point of its origin and the flat side of the file will allow you to do just that. Flat File or the flat of a Triangle File. First cut is K, Second cut is L1, Third cut is L2.