The Top 20 Tools to Gift a Beginner Carver This Christmas

The Top 20 Tools to Gift a Beginner Carver This Christmas

If someone you love has been talking about wanting to try wood carving, this is your sign to gift them the tools that actually make starting feel doable. Carving doesn’t require a full workshop or expensive machinery. It starts with a few well-made tools, good materials, and a little guidance.

Everything listed below is beginner-friendly, thoughtfully designed, and chosen to help someone fall in love with carving from day one. These are tools and projects I truly recommend, whether you’re gifting to a total beginner or someone ready to go a little deeper.

Here are my top 20 carving gifts for beginners this Christmas.

  1. Mel’s Carving Club Starter Tool Set
    This is hands down one of the easiest ways to get started. It includes the core tools I teach with and removes the guesswork for beginners. A great all-in-one gift.

  2. Mikikichan Carving Knife
    This knife is a favorite for a reason. It’s sharp, balanced, and comfortable to hold, which makes learning proper carving technique much easier.

  3. Japanese 90mm Carving Knife
    A versatile knife that works beautifully for shaping and detail. It’s a great next step once someone feels comfortable with the basics.

  4. Spoon Gouge (12mm or 15mm)
    If carving spoons or small bowls is the goal, this is essential. One good gouge is all a beginner needs to start hollowing confidently.

  5. Original Spoon Carving Kit with Bass Blank | Melanie Abrantes DesignsBeginner Spoon Carving Kit
    A perfect gift for someone who wants a guided first project. Everything is included so they can open the box and start carving right away.

  6. Pre-Cut Spoon Blanks
    These remove the intimidation of starting from raw wood and allow beginners to focus on learning technique instead of shaping from scratch.

  7. Small Project Blanks
    Simple shapes like our pocket mirror, footed bowl, or cooking spoon are great confidence builders and make the carving process feel approachable.

  8. Bench Hook made of wood and cork. Shown on cork side.Bench Hook
    One of the most underrated beginner tools. A bench hook helps stabilize the workpiece, making carving safer and more controlled.

  9. 15mm Japanese Rounded Straight ChiselStraight Chisel
    This is a great introduction to tools beyond knives. It helps beginners understand different carving motions and shaping techniques.

  10. Wood Sanding & Finishing  
    Finishing is part of the process. A good range of sandpaper helps beginners learn how to smooth and refine their work. This pack comes with our in house woodbutter, sandpaper and our MCC fibercloth. 

  11. Japanese 3 Piece File SetMini Files
    Mini files are the perfect way to finish your piece when you cant get into specific nooks and crannies. Grab this set to help you with the finishing. 

  12. Carving gloves with a thin pink edging around the wrist are being worn, whittling a spoon with a knife.Carving Safety Glove
    A small but meaningful addition. Gloves help beginners feel more confident while learning knife control.

  13. Tool Roll
    Protects tools and helps beginners feel organized and intentional about their practice.

  14. Carve A Simple Guide to Whittling Book
    My book is a great start to hands-on learning! It focus' on 12 different small projects and Japanese hand tools.

  15. Offering 3 DIY tutorials for Spoon Carving, Knife + Fork Carving or River Stone Carving.In Person & Online Carving Tutorials
    We have several in person & online workshops to purchase. Watching techniques demonstrated makes a huge difference. Video learning is especially helpful for beginners.

  16. Mel’s Carving Club Membership- Subscription 
    Join the club! This is an ongoing gift that keeps giving. Quarterly projects, guidance, and a supportive carving community make learning feel fun and sustainable.

  17. Tool Bag
    These are great for gifting because they feel special and time-based, perfect for winter carving sessions.

  18. Shop Apron
    Carving can get messy in the best way. An apron makes the practice feel more official and enjoyable.

  19. Bowl Gouge
    When you are working on deeper bowl projects, this is the perfect project to make those larger pieces. 

  20. Melanie Abrantes Designs Digital Gift CardGift Card to melanieabrantes.shop
    Perfect if you’re not sure what to choose. It gives beginners the freedom to pick tools or projects as they learn what they love.

Carving is a slow, grounding craft, and the right tools make all the difference. You don’t need everything at once. A few quality tools paired with good materials and guidance are more than enough to begin.

If you’re gifting carving this holiday season, you’re not just giving tools. You’re giving time, focus, and the chance to make something by hand. Happy Carving! 

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