{"product_id":"2026-11-13-beginner-knifemaking-and-hand-tools","title":"2026-11-13 - Beginner Knifemaking and Hand Tools","description":"\u003ch2\u003eClass Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSchedule: \u003c\/strong\u003eNovember 13-15 (9:00-5:00 pm CT)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLocation: \u003c\/strong\u003eThis is an in-person class held at Vesterheim Folk Art School.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstructor: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vesterheim.org\/exhibit\/k-j-groven\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(44, 187, 191);\"\u003eKJ Groven\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLevel of Instruction: \u003c\/strong\u003eBeginner Friendly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDescription\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e The goal of this class is to set you up with some simple and very useful hand tools that can be made from cheap materials found in the local hardware stores and then learn the basics of traditional Norwegian knifemaking with a pre-made knife blank. You'll also learn to make the knife sheath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou might wonder where to start if you want to make knives. Maybe you don’t want a fancy Norwegian belt knife that is too nice to use or maybe that is exactly what you want! Either way, this class is for you. We will go back to basics and hand carve a handle. This is something the instructor still does from time to time. By making one by hand, it will be much easier for you to understand this process when you graduate to power tools, and, yes, you can make a knife without power. The knife project will be more of a knife for carving than a fancy belt knife. Then we will make a traditional Norwegian sheath from vegetable tanned leather, with or without a belt hoop. Decoration and finishes of the leather will also be explored.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor knifemaking tools, we will make an awl and a tool for pauting (modelin) leather. We will also make two tang saws – one will be made from scratch with push and pull teeth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note\u003c\/strong\u003e: Students will not be forging their own blades, but will be learning how to put a handle on a premade blade, as well as making their own sheath for the knife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSupplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere will be a $130 materials fee paid directly to the instructor, which will include one knife blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe instructor will have some different styles of blades for sale that you can choose from for the project.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can feel free to bring your own knifemaking tools, but don't worry if you don’t have any. Between Vesterheim and the instructor, there will be tools for everyone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(44, 187, 191);\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vesterheim.org\/folk-art-school\/#cancellation-policy\" title=\"Cancellation Policy\" rel=\"noopener\" style=\"color: rgb(44, 187, 191); text-decoration: underline;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Cancellation Policy.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(44, 187, 191);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vesterheim.org\/exhibit\/scholarships-discounts\/\" title=\"Scholarships and Discounts\" rel=\"noopener\" style=\"color: rgb(44, 187, 191); text-decoration: underline;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLearn about Scholarships and Discounts.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(44, 187, 191);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.vesterheim.org\/pages\/folk-art-courses\" title=\"Folk Art School Current Courses\" rel=\"noopener\" style=\"color: rgb(44, 187, 191); text-decoration: underline;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eReturn to Current Course Offerings.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vesterheim Folk Art School","offers":[{"title":"Non-Member Tuition","offer_id":43810825535562,"sku":"IP.2026.Q4.62","price":320.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Member Tuition","offer_id":43810825568330,"sku":"IP.2026.Q4.62MT","price":290.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0289\/4712\/0202\/files\/K.J.Groven_Beginer_Knife_1--standard-scale-4_00x_66c72634-a952-4463-b1d2-60d7c2e17873.jpg?v=1784142320","url":"https:\/\/store.vesterheim.org\/products\/2026-11-13-beginner-knifemaking-and-hand-tools","provider":"Vesterheim Museum Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}