Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn woodcarving
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Relief carving brings a design such as a leaf or a shell up from a flat piece of wood with gouges and chisels, while chip carving cuts patterns into a surface with knives. Beginners' courses and carving clubs often supply the tools, so you can learn before buying your own.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
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What you learn first
Relief carving is a common way in. West Dean College's Woodcarving for Beginners starts with choosing and seasoning timber and the care and sharpening of tools, then carves a small relief of a natural form such as a leaf, a snail shell or a flower in an oval of lime wood, which is included in the fee. Students rough out, shape with a gouge and a flat chisel, add detail with small gouges and punches, then seal, oil and polish.
Chip carving uses knives instead. At the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina, a week-long class uses two knives to decorate a basswood object with a pattern; beginners start on a practice board, and knives, sharpening stones and gloves or thumb guards can be bought or borrowed in class.
Clubs keep you carving. The British Woodcarvers Association has regional branches; its Bedfordshire branch, for one, runs a weekly club on most Monday mornings in Renhold, with inductions and mentoring for members. In the US, the National Wood Carvers Association, which has promoted woodcarving for more than 70 years, keeps a list of clubs and groups. At the Campbell Folk School, Richard Carter has run a free weekly carving class since 2017, according to The Bitter Southerner.
What beginners pay
| Where | Course | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| West Dean College | Woodcarving for Beginners: short course with a relief project; lime blank included and tools available | £328, accommodation extra |
| City Lit, London | Carving in wood: 11 Tuesday evenings from 5 January 2027; open to all levels; tools and wood provided | £559, or £447 senior and £363 concession |
| John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, North Carolina | Chip Carving for Beginning and Intermediate Carvers: Sunday to Friday, a week in February | $950 tuition, plus a $45 to $105 materials fee |
How to start
- Book a beginners' course, or find a local carving group through the British Woodcarvers Association (UK) or the National Wood Carvers Association (US).
- Start in a soft wood; West Dean's beginners carve lime, and the John C. Campbell Folk School's chip carving class uses basswood.
- Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes, and use the gloves or thumb guards your class recommends.
Where to go
- West Dean College: Woodcarving for Beginners UK
- British Woodcarvers Association: Bedfordshire branch (one of its regional groups) UK
- National Wood Carvers Association: about and find a club (US) US
- John C. Campbell Folk School: Chip Carving for Beginning and Intermediate Carvers (North Carolina) US
We opened these links on 8 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What wood should a beginner carve?
A soft wood. West Dean's beginners' course uses lime, and the John C. Campbell Folk School's chip carving class uses basswood.
Do I need my own carving tools?
Not at first. City Lit provides tools, West Dean has tools available to use, and the Campbell Folk School's chip carving class lets you buy or borrow knives.
What is the difference between relief and chip carving?
Relief carving shapes a design up from a flat panel with gouges and chisels; chip carving removes small pieces with a knife to make patterns on a surface.
How do I find a woodcarving club?
In the UK, through the British Woodcarvers Association's regional branches; in the US, through the National Wood Carvers Association's find-a-club list.
Where this comes from: West Dean College, Woodcarving for Beginners with Alex Jones (SWE36636); City Lit, Carving in wood; British Woodcarvers Association, Bedfordshire branch; National Wood Carvers Association, About; John C. Campbell Folk School, Chip Carving for Beginning and Intermediate Carvers; The Bitter Southerner, The House That Carving Built (1 September 2020). Opened 8 November 2026.
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