Whittle A Little Piggy

How to Whittle a Caricature Pig

Whittle this little piggy with your own personality!

By Christine Coffman, Article originally from Whittling Magazine, Issue 2011.

This little porker is big on personality but can be completed with just a few basic tools. Beginners can expect good results with their first attempt, and more experienced carvers can fill a pig pen in a weekend.

I prefer the Warren #8B and #20EX blades. The #8B is slightly curved and the #20EX is sharpened on the outside curve of the blade. The #20EX is great for making cuts on a flat surface. I also use a Drake knife with the blade mounted at an angle toward the handle. This design creates very little stress on the wrist. Whatever tools you choose, make sure they are sharp. Sharp tools require less pressure to make the cut, which gives you more control and smoother cuts. Transfer the pattern onto the blank. Make sure the grain runs parallel with the pig’s legs. Many boards check or crack at the ends because the exposed end grain dries faster. Position your pattern away from the end of the board.

You will need:

•  1 1/2 ” x 1 3/4 ” x 3″ (38mm x 44mm x 76mm) basswood, butternut, or cottonwood
• Formby’s low-gloss tung oil
• Carving knives
• Band saw or coping saw
• Free pattern included (click here!)

1. Cut the profile.

Cut the profile. Use a band saw or a coping saw. Cut away any sharp angles. Clamp the pig in a vise and use a hand saw to make a cut separating the two front legs and the two back legs. Do not cut too deep in the belly area. Sand the bottom of the feet smooth and level.

3. Define the legs.

Use the tip of a knife to make a stop cut along the area you want to remain. Repeat this step to make a slight groove. Carve up to the stop cut, making small cuts to avoid snapping off the legs. Thin the legs and feet. 3

5. Carve the curly tail.

Use the tip of a knife to stop-cut along the area where the tail overlaps itself. Cut down into the center of the tail to make it look like a doughnut. Separate the tail where it overlaps, clean up the cuts, and smooth the surface of the tail. .

7. Finish Carving the Ears.

Stop-cut around the front and sides of the ears, giving them a triangular shape. Relieve the wood around the ears. A curved blade with the outside edge sharpened, such as a Warren #20EX, is useful for this step.

9. Carve the pig’s feet.

Carve a small V-shaped wedge from the front of the pig’s feet to simulate cloven hooves.