Photocopy the pattern four times, and mark each clearly to note which piece it's intended for. You could also recreate the patterns directly on your wood, using a large compass or a trammel to mark out the segments of a nine-inch-diameter circle.
For the divider patterns, carefully trim away the parts of the larger pattern that do not apply, following the plans.
Take care in how you lay out the grain on your lumber. As I was laying out the end pieces, I realized that the two ends were going to have conflicting patterns. On one end, the grain would form a mountain shape on the other, it would be a steep valley. Although it took a little extra time and wood, I rearranged my parts so that both ends and dividers had matching grain. The result is subtle but pleasing.
When you have marked all of your stock, cut two 12" x 10" pieces for the ends. Using spray adhesive or double-sided tape, affix one end pattern to each piece. Align the back edge of the pattern with the edge of the board and cut along the curved front of the pattern.
There are many tools for cutting a curve: a jigsaw, a bandsaw, or even a router in a circle-cutting jig could do the job. I used a scrollsaw, which allowed me to cut very close to the line on the pattern, leaving a smooth edge behind. I didn't even have to do a lot of sanding.
Don't cut out the feet on the end pieces yet. Leave the boards square for now. You'll cut the angles for the base of the organizer later. By leaving the bottom square to the back, you'll be able to use the tablesaw fence for cutting all of the dados required.
Next, cut out two 9 1/2"-square pieces for the dividers. Note that the dividers are not strictly quarter-circles. There is 3/16" of leftover wood along the backs and the bottoms of the dividers. These extra bits fit into the stopped dados that you will soon cut in the back and bottom pieces. For now, leave this extra wood the full length of the dividers. Again, affix a paper pattern to the dividers and cut along the curves.
Cut the back and bottom now. If you want a larger arch or a different design along the top of your organizer, you should adjust the size of your back piece to accommodate your pattern.
Dado operations
Set up your tablesaw to cut 3/8"-wide dados. The depth of cut should be set to 3/16" deep, no more than half of the depth of the board. Practise on scrap wood to check the thickness and depth of the cut. Before cutting the ends, take a moment to verify which piece is which. One end must be the mirror image of the other. Next, cut dados in the ends to receive the back and the bottom pieces of the organizer. Dry-fit the pieces to ensure a proper fit.
The next procedure involves cutting stopped dado grooves in the back and bottom. These hold the dividers. In addition, you'll cut stopped dados in the right-hand end piece, and in the right-hand divider to hold the middle and top shelves. In both cases, the dados must taper to a stop before they reach the edges of the boards. There are two methods for doing this on a tablesaw.

0 Comment