A good way to build your knife skills is to practice carving. The spoon (and knife handle actually) carved below is from oak, which is a relatively difficult wood for me to work with because of its hardness, but every time I finish a project my knife skills improve. If you have never tried your hand at carving before, buy some basswood from your local arts and crafts store and start whittling! Remember to be careful. Beginners should always carve away from their body parts, and remember that a sharp blade is safer than a dull one!
The oak board, sketched out, and slightly carved out
The only two tools used for this ladle (besides the drill for the paracord) were this Mora #1 and the small palm spoon gouge.
Once your carving is done, sand it with various grits as you work the grain out. For this spoon I finished with 600 grit (highest I had on me) and then buffed it with leather. After the spoon was sanded smooth, I rubbed it with mineral oil so that it can be used with cooking without becoming discolored.
