Karvsnitt Carving, Pattern & Color in the Slöjd Tradition

Cutting patterns and symbols in wood, and enhancing them with vibrant color, are folk traditions kept alive in the slöjd craft. Through decorations imbued with meaning, chip carving has given soul to slöjd woodcraft throughout history. Even today, chip carving offers a natural complement to an artfully crafted spoon, cutting board or shrink box – and it provides the opportunity to develop your own creativity and meaningful patterns.

This book teaches you techniques for cutting triangle chips, fingernail cuts, lines and letters — plus you’ll learn what kind of wood, knives and tools you need to get started, and techniques for painting your finished work. You’ll find 15 projects, from simple decorations on knife handles and signs to more demanding objects such as boxes and combs.

In addition to providing practical knowledge, “Karvsnitt” opens a window into older slöjd and folk art, and provides fascinating in-depth descriptions of the traditional meanings of different patterns and symbols.

We have sought to reproduce the Swedish edition of this book in every way possible, from the paper’s opacity to the binding and the endsheets. In short, this is a high-quality book that is made to last for generations.

Table of Contents

Introduction

- Rooted in a folk tradition of patterns, 6

- What’s the point of cutting patterns?, 7

- Tradition is change, 9



Tools, Materials & Techniques

- Chip carving knife, 13

- Material and blank, 14

- Knife grips for chip carving, 18

- Triangle chip, 24

- Cutting letters and numbers, 31

- Fingernail cut, 34

- Shallow relief carving, 38

- Pierced decoration, 42

- Kolrosing, 44



Pattern Construction, 53



Painting Your Work, 57



Other Slöjd Tools 66



Grinding, Honing & Stropping, 72



Projects, 76



Symbols & Magical Signs, 166

Archetypal symbols, 171

The role of symbols and patterns today, 184



Afterword: Slöjd Artistry, 186



Index, 190

Jögge Sundqvist is a professional slöjd craftsman with 40 years of experience. He writes for both beginners and more experienced woodworkers. His previous book in English, “Slöjd in Wood,” is also published by Lost Art Press.

Read more about Jögge in a two-part author profile: Click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.