You might be reading this and thinking that I whittle on all the time and it’s not something new.
Whilst yes, you may be right I do witter on, I’d never actually tried whittling.
Thrive Outside CIC had posted on Instagram about their weekly woodwork and craft sessions which looked right up my street and a great way to try something new.
What Is Whittling?
In a nutshell, it’s a very basic form of wood carving that typically involves using a sharp metal knife to carve raw wood into shapes.
Getting Wild Just Outside The Centre Of York
Living in York is amazing. I love that it’s not too big a city, it’s gorgeous, and there are plenty of green spaces all within walking distance. Those green spaces often provide perfect venues to learn some bushcraft skills, and whilst we may not really need them living in a city, they’re always useful skills to have up your sleeve.
This session took place in Homestead park, home to 14 acres of gardens in the Clifton area. As well as manicured lawns and beautifully looked after flower beds, there’s also a wilder meadow area which is where our activities took place.
Rain Won’t Stop Play
Winter was still hanging around on the day that I went along. Fully layered up and wearing waterproofs, this didn’t seem like ideal conditions to be doing much in the great outdoors.
However, the team had put up a shelter which we were very grateful for as the rain pattered down onto the canvas and rolled away off the sides. A roaring fire provided plenty of heat and boiled the kettle so we could warm up from the inside with a hot drink. Despite the grizzly conditions, it was really quite cosy.
Thrive Outside CIC
The session was run by Mel and Claire from Thrive Outside CIC; a York-based Community Interest Company. It’s their mission to improve physical and emotional wellbeing by engaging with nature in local green spaces.
Whilst there are plenty of good paid classes and courses available to learn how to whittle, Thrive Outside don’t want money to be a barrier to learning outdoor skills in an outdoor setting where people can benefit from spending time in nature, whatever the weather!
They usually cook up a meal on the campfire for the group, but due to the inclement weather on the day I went along, we kept things simple and had some biscuits instead.
Warm Welcome To Whittling
Big smiles and a cheery hello from Claire welcomed me for my first ever try at whittling. Along with Mel, they provided all of the kit, caboodle, and encouragement for us to work with nature and embrace the wild.
As I’d never whittled before, I opted to try and create something fairly straightforward and decided to attempt to make a knife. You may think that if you were out in the wilderness for a long time that using a decent sharp metal knife, to create a not-so-sharp knife out of wood is counter intuitive, but, I’d argue two knives would always be better than one when you don’t know how long you’ll need to survive, or when an occasion to spread something would come up!
Using a piece of hazel wood, Mel gave me some guidance to get going, starting with stripping the bark. Facing the knife away from me I smoothly cut through to the lighter wood underneath.
Whittle By Whittle
The next steps involved cutting away more of the wood, reducing the stick to a smaller thickness and making it a consistent size suitable for a knife.
It was a straightforward motion, and actually very relaxing as I got into the rhythm of the process.
The atmosphere was lovely and supportive as people chatted whilst making their individual creations. Some of the more experienced whittlers were carving spoons, foxes and rabbits! It was all very impressive to see that with a bit of imagination and a good doses of patience and perseverance, what had started out as a branch could be turned into all manner of items.
Mel and Claire were always on hand to make sure we were using our tools safely, and to offer little nuggets of gentle advice and guidance to help us with our makes.
I very much appreciated Mel’s help when it came to carving the edge for my creation, without her expertise I think I might have hacked off too much and be left with just a handle and I’m not sure how much use that would be if I found myself deep in the forest for days at a time.
'Whittle' Be Alright
After three hours, my hand was ready for a rest as I think I’d been gripping my whittling knife a little too tightly. My wooden knife was coming along nicely, and although it wasn’t finished, I think you can tell what it is?
A 'Tree'-Mendous Activity
I ‘wood’ highly recommend giving whittling a go (couldn’t resist the puns!) It’s a great skill to learn and it’s very easy to pick up. Unlike learning any sort of woodcrafts at school, I found this to be much more relaxed and a positivity learning experience – which is part of the ethos of the organisers.
This was a great taster session, and whilst I didn’t learn the names of the types of cuts, or many different techniques in the short time I was there, it was a brilliant introduction and I know I can go back and learn more.
Why You Should Have A Go At Whittling
- It’s really easy to pick up.
- If you don’t consider yourself to be a creative type, (and I’m sure you are really), it’s ok as making some of the simple things to start with, doesn’t always need much creativity.
- You’ll be inspired by others – everyone has different experience and ideas and you’ll pick things up from others who are doing it.
- It’s a great way to get back to basics and get hands on with nature.
- If you need something to quieten the chatter and noise of the everyday in your mind, whittling can be a great mindful activity as you get into a flow through the rhythm of the carving.
- You’ll have something to show for it! Whatever you make, you can be proud you made it!
- It’s an experience and a story that you can tell other people about.
Want To Try Whittling Yourself?
- The session I went along to was with Thrive Outside CIC. They meet weekly on a Friday at Homestead Park between 11am and 2pm.
- Check their website and instagram page for the latest information and updates.
- If you’re not in York, check on-line for any events near you.
- You can find lots of whittling and wood carving experiences from different experience sites such as Craft Courses.
- Take a look at the craft experiences section for inspiration of other new crafts you can try.
Cost Of Experience
- Thrive Outside CIC offer the session for free.
- Depending on where you go to try whittling, and the duration of the experience, there may be a cost associated with it which can be from £40 and upwards.
Recommendations
- Always think safety first!
- Listen to the instructors and don’t be afraid to ask for help or confirmation to make sure you’re doing things safely.
- Go with the flow and be patient – it does take time to make your creation but you’ll get there!
- If your session is outdoors, check the forecast and dress appropriately for the weather.
- Don’t forget to get some pictures as you whittle! Let me know how you get on if you give it a go.
Loving the wooden chain, althought in baffled at how you’d whittle something like that. Maybe I just lack the imagination to figure out how that’d be done. It’s also good to know these old skills are still being teached
It’s impressive isn’t it?! Apparently it was the very experienced instructor who made the chain during lock down, it must have taken a lot of concentration and patience. Thank you for reading, Sally :o)