Learn to make a Scandinavian-style hardwood cutting board and “tattoo” it through the traditional craft of kolrosing. Inspired by an antique kolrosed cutting board Liesl found in Norway, your board will have one side for cutting and the other side decorated so that you can hang it proudly in your kitchen! Kolrosing uses a very small knife to cut lines into wood that have pigment (like ground cinnamon) and oil rubbed into them for a scrimshaw-like effect. Instructor Maeve Gathje will lead the class in designing and cutting shapes into the board itself. This can be a simple handle, or the shape of an animal. Maeve will cover design elements to consider when creating a custom cutting board. Then kolrosing artist Liesl Chatman will cover kolrosing knife techniques used in cutting letters, borders, patterns, and illustration.

A materials fee of ~$90 will be due to the instructors during class. This includes everything needed for the project, including a hardwood board, a kolrosing kit, and a make-your-own-pocket zine using Liesl’s hand-drawn handouts. Specialized kolrosing knives are not included in the kit but are available to borrow or purchase.

Students ages 16+ may register if accompanied by an adult. Adult/child pairs will complete one project and pay one materials fee. A 25% tuition discount applies to the youth registrant when registering with a full paying adult; call to register.

Required Tools

• All tools needed will be provided for use in the class. Specialized kolrosing tools will also be available for purchase.

Optional Tools

• Favorite carving knife

This course is part of Wood Week 2026. Plan to stay a day longer for the Carvers Conference on Friday, March 6, which features demonstrations, speakers, and community gatherings offered as a benefit to students enrolled in Wood Week coursework. Full schedule available online in early 2026.