Woodcraft of Roanoke

Building a Traditional Pegged Stool

Part 1: Thursday, July 24, 9 AM - 5 PM

Part 2: Thursday, October 23, 9 AM - 5 PM

Join us for an immersive two-day woodworking workshop where we will build a classic low-height pegged stool, an early furniture form that dates back centuries. Traditional stools, commonly found in medieval households and early European homes, are characterized by their robust, mortise-and-tenon construction and simple yet elegant design. Students will gain hands-on experience using traditional hand tools such as hand planes, chisels, handsaws, and marking tools. While also incorporating modern efficiency with table saws, router tables, and tapering jigs. This class also introduces the precursor of chair-making concepts, including resultant angles, splay, and rake—fundamental skills for advancing into Windsor chairs or other post-and-rung furniture styles. At the end of the class, you’ll leave with your own handmade stool and a deeper appreciation for historical woodworking techniques!

Beginning Knife Making

Part 1: Friday, August 8, 5 PM - 7 PM

Part 2: Saturday, August 9, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Learn the fundamentals of knife kit construction to include shaping and installing knife handles or “scales”, custom pins, or rivets provided in the kits, sanding and finishing the handles to produce a knife you’d be proud to own or gift away. In the class you will use a drill press, bandsaw, oscillating sander, and clamps and epoxies. All materials and knife kits are included in this class of four hours over two consecutive days. Each participant will take home the knife created in this class. Please bring your own safety glasses and dust mask

Joinery Essentials

Sunday, August 10, 9 AM - 5 PM

Joinery is at the heart of fine woodworking, ensuring strong, lasting, and visually appealing furniture. This full-day, hands-on workshop introduces students to the fundamental woodworking joints, blending both traditional hand-tool techniques and modern power-tool methods. Students will learn how to cut and assemble dovetails, mortise and tenon joints, box joints, lap joints, and dadoes—all essential for furniture making. We will explore proper joint selection, marking and measuring techniques, cutting methods, and best practices for accuracy and strength. By the end of the day, students will have hands-on experience in crafting precise joinery and gain confidence in their woodworking skills