The crooked knife, also known as the mocotaugan (Cree) or waagikomaan (Anishinaabe), has an important place in the history of North American woodworking. Essentially a one-handed drawknife, it is a tool used for making snowshoes, lacrosse sticks, birch bark canoes, paddles, basket rims, tool handles, and much more. Unlike the drawknife, which requires a shaving horse or a clamp of some sort to hold the work, the crooked knife can be taken and used anywhere with nothing but your hands. In this one-day class, students will craft a custom handle to fit a pre-made blade provided by the instructor. We will also practice using the knife on some smaller projects and learn how to sharpen the blade so that each person will feel confident taking their knife home and putting it to use. Open to students ages 16+.

This course is part of Winterers Gathering 2025. Plan to enjoy demonstrations, speakers, and community gatherings. Full schedule in late 2025.

Required Tools 

• All tools will be provided

Optional Tools 

• If you have a favorite carving knife, bring it, but I will have plenty to share.