Woodland Whittling

This rather charmingly titled book is a not-quite-pocket-sized compendium of projects which can be whittled wherever you please – from your back room to the woodland – just using a simple selection of tools to shape ordinary branch material. It starts with plenty of good advice about knives and sharpening, from Swiss army to carving to bushcraft knives. Try out which works best for you. There is, of course, essential safety advice, especially as safety is often a cause of concern for novices. Then  it should be carved dry or wet – the author is very much in favour of the latter for ease of working. Choose homegrown timbers such as silver birch, hazel, pear or lime. You may be lucky and find spalted beech, maple or jelutong, etc. There is plenty of choice. The meat of the book are  the 20 projects that give plenty of scope for learning and improving while creating some wonderful and useful items in the process. Starting with a plant label, we progress through woodfolk, toasting fork, ring-holder tree, kuksa, wren, monogrammed spoon, owl head for a walking stick and many more besides. Beautifully illustrated with many helpful technique photos, this is a must-have whittling tome to keep with you.

* Woodworking Crafts magazine *

When the stresses of modern life get too much, what could be better than gathering a few simple tools, heading into the woods and literally whittling away a few hours? The gentle art of whittling is a relaxing and absorbing  hobby that can be enjoyed almost anywhere, from round the campfire to in a cosy armchair at home. All you need is a good pocket knife, a piece of wood and your imagination. Projects can range from the delightfully simple to impressively intricate – it’s up to you. This delightful 144-page hardback book guides you through the basics, explaining what equipment you need, how to hold the knife, and what timber to use. The 20 fun projects are then all described in detail with clear step-by-step photographs. Projects include: letter opener, thumb stick, ring tree and egg cup.

* Wood Carving magazine *

The traditional countryside craft of whittling is something I’d love to be able to do, but always imagined it was completely inaccessible for someone like me with no experience or knowledge of wood  working. Step forward Whittling, Peter Benson’s informative little book. There are tips in here about which woods to work with, how to choose and use tools and simple projects, suitable for beginners. Each project has clear, step-by-step pictures from log to completion, which lots of advice along the way. The author’s explanations really made me feel I could  achieve some of the results, and I’ve already started eyeing up suitable chunks of wood while I’m out with the dog – watch this space!

* Horse & Countryside magazine *

Beginning with an outline of a few optional tools you may need, alongside a simple knife, this book sets out the cuts and safety measures you need to undertake a series of projects, some whimsical and some beautiful. Starting with old favourites – letter opener, butter spreader and spoon – it then moves onto more ambitious carving challenges such as animals and even Christmas decorations. This a great, instructive little book for the budding whittler and would make a good present, as would others from the Guild of Master Craftsmen’s book catalogue, which I recommend looking at.

* Bushcraft & Survival Skills magazi