Spoon carving and nature’s creatures — A beautiful morning delight

Keeping the mind clear and filling empty time helps the soul and brain stay healthy. So, I started adding wood carving a bit back to my life. Below, you’ll see a spoon carved from spoon blanks. And thanks again to a special someone who paid for the materials plus the kit!

This past weekend, I was whittling away on my first spoon, and the brush started ruffling and out came a beauitul young bull moose.

Whilst whittling a spoon by the not-so-soft morning light,
Wood curls fall gently, my blade carving right.
A rustle in the grass—there, a young moose appears,
Eyes wide with wonder, it pauses, no fears.
The spoon takes its shape as the moose grazes near,
Nature and craft in this moment, oh so clear. — @NatureCrank

You too can carve stuff.

Spoon carving is a pretty rewarding craft that requires minimal tools and materials, making it perfect for those on a budget or needing something to do with their time, like me.

Tools needed

To get started, you’ll want a few essential tools by your side. A straight-edged carving knife—something like a Mora 106 or 120, or Flexcut KN13 —is great for shaping the spoon. For carving out the bowl (the part that holds food or liquid), a hook knife (like the Mora 164 or 162, Flexcut KN52) does the trick.

A small axe or hatchet will help you rough out the blank or log, and a simple hand saw or pruning saw comes in handy for cutting wood down to size. If you have them, tools like a gouge or spokeshave can make the finishing touches a little smoother.

And don’t skip the safety gloves—cut-resistant gloves and a thumb guard go a long way in keeping your hands safe while you work, but more importantly, keeping your wood clean, especially if you live in a dusty environment.

Remember, your hands have oils, sweat, and pick up dirt and dust. It will dirty the piece you are carving very quickly. My exact gear is below.

My gear

• BeaverCraft Deluxe Wood Carving Kit S18X
• Prandi German Style Hatchet – PRA0306TH
• Flexcut SlipStrop Kit for sharpening
• Flexcut Single Bevel Sloyd Hook Knife KN52
• Flexcut Detail Knife KN13
• HexArmor | Seamless Knit Safety Work Gloves
• Sandpaper 120-400 grit (optional)
• Foodgrade linseed oil (to seal the wood and protect it)
• Wood

About the wood

Choose green (wet) softwoods like birch, poplar, willow, or basswood for easier carving, as they’re softer than seasoned wood. Green wood carves so much more easily, but is sometimes hard to find. Also, don’t go chopping down trees on public lands. You can get blanks on Amazon, which aren’t exactly green, but you can only get what’s available.

Hardwoods like cherry or maple are more durable but tougher to work. They are much tougher!

You’ll also need sandpaper (grits 120–400) for smoothing, but a note on that. Some people like the more rustic, cut look. Regardless of what people say online, sometimes it’s nice to smooth out certain spots, especially if you don’t want to remove any more wood with the knife in that area.

The food-safe oil, such as walnut or linseed oil, is used to seal and enhance the wood’s grain. If you’re using the piece, you will have to reapply every so often. Other oils may suffice if it’s a piece that’s just going to sit around for decoration.

How to carve

I’m no expert, so I’ll leave it to the experienced. Here are some channels that I have watched.

Doug Linker

This is a good place to start. I’ve embedded his intro video series, but he has all sorts of projects on his channel.

Gene Messer

Gene Messer’s channel is a treasure trove with over 2,800 videos, many tailored for beginners. He specializes in flat-plane carving, covering spoons, figures, and animals, with detailed, step-by-step guidance. He uses slow-paced explanations to make complex cuts accessible, and his focus on using minimal tools (often just a knife) can help you remain minimalistic.

Carving is Fun

Brian’s channel has a range of projects from whimsical characters to spoons. There’s enough context to keep your brown juices flowing.