Complete Starter Guide to Whittling: 24 Easy Projects You Can Make in a Weekend (Fox Chapel Publishing) Whittling for Beginners with Woodcarving Patterns, Step-by-Step Instructions, and Carving Tips Paperback – May 1, 2014

Got this for my husband and he’s obsessed. It’s super beginner-friendly and breaks everything down without feeling overwhelming. The projects are actually fun and doable. Definitely recommend if you’re just starting out or want something relaxing to do on the weekend!

Boys and their toys! This year I heard that my Granddaughter was getting wood carving/whittling tools for her husband and two sons (34, 10 and 8 respectively). So I decided that all the "boys" should have something along those lines. :) This book and the wood carving kit that my Grandson and Grandson-in-law had under the tree were a big surprise ... and exciting gift, if the responses were true! Come the spring thaw, big and not so big boys will be sitting around the campfire sharing ideas. Btw, the girls will be there, too. Lol. This book has lots of ideas for beginners of all ages. I can't wait to see what they all do!

This is a basic guide designed to show you the basics so you'll know what is possible with whittling skills as you develope them. The book has great pictorials showing some easy projects and some intermediate projects. I have read complaints in other reviews that the book doesn't go far enough in teaching the basic cuts or control of your carving/whittling tool. Those things are best taught by personal instruction or by video instruction. Think about trying to learn how to ride a bicycle by someone showing you a pic and explaining it, difficult right? My opinion is that when reading through the book, you should augment your learning by going to Youtube and watching how others with experience do what you are trying to learn. There is much in this book for a beginner. Don't believe that your first projects have to be perfect, they won't be. My first carving of a viking ended up looking like the main character in the movie "Predators" and my first relief carving of a flower looked more like a Flying Saucer. Enjoy this book for what it is, basics. You'll have more questions as you learn and improve your skill but this will help get you started.

I got the book just over an week ago and I’ve already tackled a few projects. And I’ve already started feeling like I’m creating cool woodsy handcrafts, like these pencil Santas and a “fiveMinute Wizard.” And I have ZERO previous wood carving experience.They start out with really good info on knives, sharpening, protection, and the few basic cuts that you build on over time.I’m using just a regular couple of pocket knives so far-a swiss army “climber” and a Buck for big cuts- but I did order finger protection along with the book. I also already have a wood burner, so adding this detail was straightforwards.My only gripe with the book is that a couple of the projects are reealllllly not “complete beginner” stuff. Unless you have carpentry tools and are looking to add “whittling” to your skill set, you aren’t really going to have a bandsaw to make the musical frog or table saw to cut a square blank into two triangular ones…but the vast majority of projects are just a knife and some wood.Bottom line-big fan, highly recommended.

I love this book. I am going to try and do each of the products in here.

Good quality. Great pics. Seems to be giving good guidance and well organized. It was a gift and I’m just telling you what I’ve seen and understand from looking through it thoroughly before gifting.

I bought this guide on whittling for my 11-year-old son, who was excited to try wood carving for the first time. Unfortunately, we were both disappointed. The book claims to be beginner-friendly, but the instructions are not detailed enough and can be hard to follow, especially for someone new to this hobby. There aren’t enough step-by-step explanations or clear visuals to really guide a beginner through the projects. It might work better for someone with some prior experience, but as true beginners, we felt lost and frustrated. I was hoping for something that broke down the basics more thoroughly and provided clearer, more beginner-focused guidance.

Nice beginner book for wood carving. Got this for my son's birthday.