Learn to Whittle

Sometimes the best way to spend a sunny day is with a carving knife, a good piece of wood, and your imagination. In Learn to Whittle Fascinating People in Wood, Charles Banks shares his secrets for flat-plane carving cleverly imagined and curiously fascinating figures using the Scandinavian ("Scandi") style.

From choosing a carving knife to whittling out the expressive eyes of an old sea captain character, Banks shares everything beginning wood-whittlers need to turn a piece of basswood or butternut into a practically living figurine!

Illustrated in wonderfully sharp color and detail, Learn to Whittle Fascinating People in Wood tells the full story of this endlessly creative hobby. Brush up on the best safety practices. Choose your favorite wood to work with. Pick the carving knife that suits the techniques you want to master.

With Banks's step-by-step, crystal-clear instructions, you'll have everything you need to slowly whittle away at the wood until you surprise even yourself — beginner or not!

WHAT'S INSIDE:

• A beautiful inspirational gallery of figures you can carve from a single wood blank style
• Detailed instructions and visual guides for crafting Scandi-style figures from single pieces of wood
• Advice on choosing carving knives, types of wood, and safety gear — with minimal expense
• Tips for mastering basic cuts you can apply to all sorts of wood whittling styles