CRAFTING kitchen utensils using traditional skills was on the agenda in Barnard Castle, when a 12-week wood whittling course got under way.
The sessions, run by Colin Wilson and Sarah Morehead from Stitch Mud and Wood in Weardale, keep alive the ancient skills necessary to whittle wood to carve butter knives, spoons and just about anything.
Using lime tree wood participants are learning all the various skills, wearing appropriate safety wear including a “cut-proof” gloves and leather aprons, to carve just about anything they wish.
Each week they are working on a different project during the two-hour sessions building up to creating a wooden horse sculpture in the new year. Mr Wilson said: “It is a slow process, but there is no rush. I always wondered how long it takes to make a wooden spoon and I can tell you it’s about eight hours. It doesn’t happen instantly, but it doesn’t need to.”
The sessions are taking place at the TCR Hub, in Barnard Castle. Johnny Elliot from the Hub said: “We didn’t really advertise the course as we were inundated with people wanting to take part.
“Hopefully we’ll be looking to do more in the future.”
