Dale Lott has a passion for carving wood. It started at an early age, and over the years, it’s become part of who he is. The phrase, “A sharp blade shapes the wood. A quiet mind shapes the work,” seems to describe Dale and how he works.
He grew up in the quiet little town of Williamstown, West Virginia, a small Ohio River town on the state's western edge.
His beginning with carving started 60 years ago when he was about eight years old. As a kid, he and his uncle, who was about the same age, each collected 100 Double Cola soda bottle caps that could be redeemed for rewards. After saving up for about six months, the two boys walked about three or four miles to the west side of Marietta, Ohio, and they each traded them in for a Kamp King knife, Dale recalled.
A Kamp King knife was a classic 4-blade utility pocket knife that featured a main spear blade, a can opener, a leather punch/awl and a flathead screwdriver/bottle opener.
“Grandpa taught us on wooden thread spools,” said Dale.
For three or four years, Grandpa kept the knife, and Dale could only use it when his Grandpa was around so that he didn’t get hurt. Getting good with his knife turned didn’t come with benefits. Progressing from the spools meant whittling out shovel and hoe handles.
Suddenly, carving wood wasn’t as fun anymore. Once it became work, the enjoyment faded, and his carving knife spent more time on the shelf than in his hand.
As a young man, Dale joined the U.S. Army, taking him far from the hills of West Virginia and leaving his Kamp King carving knife tucked away for years. When his active military service ended, he returned home to Williamstown and continued his military career in the Army Reserve. He later got married, worked on a farm for 23 years, and also worked on state roads and for the city of Williamstown.
It was during a two-week reserve training exercise that carving found its way back into his life. Looking for something to occupy the downtime, Dale was encouraged by a sergeant to grab a stick and start whittling. The suggestion seemed simple enough, but the moment the knife touched wood, everything came rushing back. Years had passed, yet the familiar motions felt as natural as they had when he was a boy learning beside his grandfather.
Dale came home from the training assignment with more than a carved stick. He had rediscovered a passion that had been dormant for years. Recognizing his growing enthusiasm, his wife purchased four carving scoops for him. The gift proved to be a turning point, and Dale threw himself into learning and refining the craft.
“I like seeing a piece of wood, and when you get done, you see something come out of it,” said Dale. It amazes him.
More than a hobby, Dale finds carving as a way to unwind and recharge.
“If I’m worried about something, I quit worrying when I’m carving,” shared Dale. “It really relaxes me.”
Today, Dale is an accomplished carver who has earned numerous awards for his work; most of his carvings are from either Basswood or Cedar. He gives a lot of carvings away, and he says it makes him feel good. When you give a gift that is hand-made, it’s special.
Speaking of special, this year will mark forty-five years of marriage for Dale and his wife. For each one of those years, Dale has hand-carved a love spoon for her, which are displayed along a wall in their home. The spoon he carved for their 19th anniversary included a carved wooden chain that had nineteen links. Needless to say, his wife loves all of the spoons.
Dale’s passion for carving is evident in the amount of time he devotes to the craft. On some days, he’ll spend seven or eight hours with a knife in hand. Knowing the physical demands that come with carving, he has learned to pace himself, working in short sessions and taking breaks when needed. Equipped with a chip-catching apron, he can carve comfortably from his living room, turning spare moments into productive time. His preferred materials are basswood and cedar, each offering its own qualities for the designs he creates.
Dale’s curiosity keeps him from carving the same thing for too long. Whenever he starts to feel restless, he looks for a new challenge. In one memorable project, he transformed an 8-foot basswood board into a chain Christmas tree decoration with 99 interconnected links, all carved from a single piece of wood. His most recent project is a ladle, which took about nine hours to complete over the course of two days.
Dale is one of the original members of the Geppetto Woodcarvers group of Parkersburg, W.Va.
Dale explained that it was happenstance how the club came to be. “In 1994, I went to Woodcraft to find a book on carving faces.” “My wife and I met some other people, and we sat out at a picnic table, and we started getting more and more people. “
Woodcraft offered them a room to meet and told them that if they wanted to become a club, they needed to choose a name and select officers. Now, 30 years later, the club has more than 30 members and is still going strong!
They used to call me the “baby” of the club,” laughed Dale.
The Geppetto Woodcarvers is an active group, often doing activities to help the community.
Among his favorite club projects are the eagle-head walking sticks the group carves for local Veterans. The project began in 2022 and has since become a meaningful way to express their appreciation for those who served. Each walking stick requires hours of craftsmanship, but Dale and his fellow carvers consider the effort well worth it. Last year alone, Dale personally contributed 25 canes to the effort. Since the inception of the project, the club has presented 163 eagle-head walking sticks.
Another club initiative is the Salvation Army Angel Tree Project. Members carve holiday ornaments that are sold at a local craft show, with proceeds helping provide Christmas gifts for underprivileged children. Last year, Dale carved 46 ornaments for the fundraiser.
The Geppetto’s meet the second Saturday of each month for their club meeting and offer a class each time. Classes vary and include topics like spoon carving, wings for birds, bird legs, wood burning 101, Christmas ornaments, chip carving, and more. Each month is different and is another opportunity for members to both teach and learn new techniques.
Many members also attend “Carver Wednesdays” where they gather at the Parkersburg, W.Va. Woodcraft store to carve, learn, and socialize.
Dale’s advice for beginners is simple: stick with it. He also stresses the importance of safety, encouraging carvers to wear carving gloves and never use a dull knife. “My thing is you get your knife razor sharp, then keep stropping it,” explained Dale. “That keeps them razor sharp. Carve for 10-15 minutes and then strop.
He also encourages involvement with a local woodcarver’s group. If you’re just starting out, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Experienced carvers are often eager to share their knowledge, and Dale says he usually learns something new every day.
As the digital age continues to grow, Dale expressed concern that woodcarving could become a lost art. “I’d like to see more younger people get into carving,” he said. He noted that his club was once mostly made up of primarily middle-aged and retired men. Today, however, more women and teenagers are expressing interest in the craft and joining the group. This shift gives him hope for the future of woodcarving.
“I’d like to see more younger people get into carving,” said Dale. The Geppetto Woodcarvers group has several women and one teenager who is 14. He is homeschooled. With the group, parents and children both can pick up knowledge.
Dale was featured in the September 2026 Woodcraft Catalog.
Get Carving
I encourage you to try wood-carving. You can gain the satisfaction of making something with your hands, make meaningful gifts and discover a lifelong creative pursuit like Dale that brings enjoyment, purpose and community.
Find a wood carvers club near you or join the National Wood Carvers Association, the nations largest association of wood carvers with nearly 5,000 members. They have over 70 years of promoting woodcarving, fellowship, and education for carvers of all skill levels from hobbyists to professionals.
Other ways to engage with the woodcarving community is through the National Wood Carvers magazine, Chip Chats, https://chipchats.org/.
I hope that reading about Dale Lott inspires you to carve out a little time for creativity and discover where a knife and a piece of wood might take you.
Doug Loyer