Whittling Gnomes from Sticks

You will need: 

A pruning saw (to cut your wood)

A peeler or whittling knife (we'll discuss further about which to choose below!)

Cut Resistant Gloves

Posca or Marker Pens

Natural material to decorate (acorn caps, moss etc!)

Water-based glue (to attach natural materials, if using)

Step 1 - Selecting & harvesting the right wood

Selecting the right type and age of wood can make a huge difference in how easy whittling is (and in turn, our enjoyment of the process!). For this activity we used hazel wood, if you don't have access to hazel then willow, chestnut or dogwood are also good options. If you don't have access to any hedges or woodland in your area to harvest natural materials, we are able to supply fresh green wood for whittling (see our range of stick lengths here). You ideally need to cut fresh sticks or use wood that has recently been harvested, the wood is softer and easier to work with before it dries out.

To cut the lengths we used a Silky Pocket Boy Japanese pull saw, this light folding saw is a handy size to fit in your pocket, and cuts wood quickly and easily! If you're harvesting smaller thinner pieces you could also use loppers.

For this project we have used branches in a range of sizes, from around 1.5-3cm in diameter. Although it can be tempting to cut the lengths quite short for your gnome characters, we would advise cutting longer lengths initially (around 30cm long) particularly for children and beginner whittlers. This means they have a good amount of stick to hold onto as they whittle the end, which helps with control and safety (keeping hands nicely out of the way!). Once their gnome is complete you can always trim the stick shorter using your saw if wanted.

Step 2 - Which whittling tool to choose

This project works with both a peeler or whittling knife, we chose to use a Mora Pro Safe knife. If you're just starting to introduce whittling to children a peeler is a great way to start, you can talk about safety and techniques in a way that's easy to introduce. For this activity if your children are using peelers, then you may need to help them to shape the ends using a pen or sheath knife once they've peeled the bark, as this is sometimes difficult to achieve with a peeler alone. We would always recommend that children use a round ended safety knife, the sharp tip of a traditional pocket knife is not needed for the majority of whittling activities and can increase the likelihood of accidental injuries. For this activity we used the Mora Pro Safe Knife If you're looking for a set of tools to start out, our children's whittling kit contains everything you need. We also have a larger set for those working with groups available here.

We talk about our tool and safety recommendations in more depth in our Whittling with Kids Guide.

Step 3 - What technique to use

Get yourself comfortable - whittling is an activity that is best undertaken seated, in a position you feel secure and comfortable. With a glove on the non working hand, twist your body slightly so that your stick is pointing down and away from you, to one side of your knees. The back of your non working hand can rest on your opposite thigh if you find this comfortable. You then can work away from your body with the knife or peeler, this position keeps you safe and secure when using tools. Don't forget to make sure that anyone else is safely away from your working area too!

For more advice on techniques and safety check out our in depth guide to whittling with children & beginners.

To make your gnome you need to remove the bark from the top part of your stick and shape the end to make his traditional pointed hat.

Step 4 - Time to decorate!

Once you've peeled and shaped your stick, it's time to give your gnome some features!

We used Posca paint pens for our gnomes faces, but any type of marker pen should work. 
You can also add some extra features like wool beards, acorn cap hats or moss hair! 

Once you've finished decorating and your paint or marker is dry, you can trim the base of your gnome to make his body a little shorter and ensure he stands upright (it can take a little perseverance to cut the stick flat enough at the base to ensure they stand wobble free!).

Happy whittling!

We'd love to see your gnome creatures (or any other whittling creations you've made!) 
Don't forget to come and say hello over on social media. 
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