Patterns & Projects

Carving a Soap Flower

Carving a Soap Flower

Soft and lacking grain, a bar of soap is easy to carve By Sue Wagner Many youngsters start off carving soap because it’s soft enough to carve with plastic or wooden tools. But, you can use sharp metal tools to create even more intricate designs without having to deal with […]

by April 5, 2018 Patterns & Projects, Spring Carving
FREE PATTERN & TUTORIAL: Working Wooden Pliers from a Single Piece of Wood

FREE PATTERN & TUTORIAL: Working Wooden Pliers from a Single Piece of Wood

Make a miniature tool with a sharp knife and a few careful cuts Based on a traditional design made famous by Ernest Warther The ability to make multiple interconnected parts from a single piece of wood is a whittler’s specialty—as evidenced by the popularity of chains and cages. These miniature […]

by February 8, 2018 Patterns & Projects, Whittling
Carving a Rustic Welcome Sign

Carving a Rustic Welcome Sign

The perfect sign project for beginners that looks great embellished with gold leaf By Vernon DePauw The pineapple has long been a symbol of welcome and hospitality. Rather than carving down the entire surface of the sign, carve and attach the pineapple separately. Making the Sign Determine the size you […]

Gorgeous Grown-up Color “Wheel”

Gorgeous Grown-up Color “Wheel”

Learn color theory—and make a beautiful project—with just five paints By Lora S. Irish   Overwhelmed by the paint aisle? Not sure of the difference between yellow-orange and orange-yellow? Completely confused when people talk about primary and secondary colors? This project will answer those questions by helping you create a […]

Carving a Simple Santa Ornament

Carving a Simple Santa Ornament

Simple project is perfect for teaching beginners or just fun for yourself! By Bob Kozakiewicz Just Released: The How-To Book of Christmas Carving!  SHOP NOW! You’ll need just a carving knife and a small V-tool to carve this easy St. Nick project. Because it uses only a few basic straight cuts, this […]

by December 15, 2017 Holiday Carving, Patterns & Projects
Quick and Cute Christmas Tree

Quick and Cute Christmas Tree

Transform a basswood egg into a simple tree just in time for Christmas By Lori Dickie   You should be able to carve this fun, cute, and quick Christmas tree almost as fast as you drew the pattern onto the turned Santa egg. Carving the Tree While carving it from […]

by December 12, 2017 Holiday Carving, Patterns & Projects, Whittling
Whittling with Chris: Carving Curls

Whittling with Chris: Carving Curls

Practice one simple technique to make all sorts of projects   There are only two techniques you need to know to whittle almost any of Chris Lubkemann’s projects: sharpening a knife and carving curls. If you need to review your sharpening technique, watch this video. If you’ve got that down, […]

by November 9, 2017 Videos, Whittling, Whittling with Chris
Whittling with Chris: Making a Letter Opener

Whittling with Chris: Making a Letter Opener

Whittle your first project! Versatile letter opener can also be a fork, jam spreader, or pickle poker   You’ve found some branches, chosen a knife, and shaped and sharpened the blade. It’s time to carve! Chris Lubkemann’s favorite first project is a versatile letter opener. You’ll learn how to shape […]

by November 9, 2017 Videos, Whittling, Whittling with Chris
Whittling with Chris: Sharpening a Knife

Whittling with Chris: Sharpening a Knife

Learn how to sharpen a knife for safe, easy whittling   A sharp knife is a safe knife. That might not seem logical, but it’s true. You will have much greater control over a sharp knife, and be able to push it much more gently through the wood, than you […]

by November 9, 2017 Videos, Whittling, Whittling with Chris
Whittling with Chris: Shaping a Knife

Whittling with Chris: Shaping a Knife

Learn how to shape your knife’s blade for whittling   To carve small twigs and tight spaces, Chris Lubkemann recommends reshaping the blade of your knife to give it more of a point.  In order to make the curls that decorate Chris’s roosters, flowers, trees, and other designs, you’ll also […]

by October 31, 2017 Videos, Whittling, Whittling with Chris