Basic Carving and Knife Safety

The knife is, perhaps, the most important tool. For thousands of years, humans have used knives made of metal and stone to cut, scrape, carve, dig, gouge and separate various materials so they can be used or consumed. Knives are still used, of course, in the modern world, but many of us have forgotten how to use them anywhere outside the kitchen. We can enhance our own sense of confidence and resilience by practicing basic knife safety skills, and have fun carving!

Gain a comprehensive overview of knives and how to use them. Practice using metal and stone knives to carve some basic eating implements from wood: fine chopsticks and/or a jam spreader. Next, try to make a spinning top! We’ll cover safety, techniques, good form, and various basic carving projects.