Lesson One: How to carve a Koru in stone

The Koru is one of the most recognised symbols in New Zealand — the unfurling frond of a young fern, representing new life, growth, strength, and peace. It's also one of the best first carvings you can attempt in stone: a flowing, organic shape that teaches you the fundamentals of the craft without overwhelming you.

This lesson takes you through the entire process from a blank block of stone to a finished, sealed Koru — step by step, with photos at every stage.

What's Inside

• 5 pages of clear written instruction
• 22 step-by-step photographs showing exactly what to do at each stage
• A printable Koru template — cut it out, glue it to cardboard, and trace it straight onto your stone
• 6 detailed steps covering everything from drawing the design to sanding and sealing the finished piece

The Six Steps

1. Draw the design onto the stone and secure it in bench blocks
2. Saw away the excess stone around the design
3. Turn the stone, cut the coil edge, and chisel away material
4. Rasp back to the pencil line to shape the form
5. Carve the hollow between the stem and the coil with a chisel
6. Round all edges with a rasp, sand with 80 grit then 220 grit, and apply silicon sealer

What You'll Need

A stone block approximately 15cm × 9cm × 4cm — a soft stone like Oamaru stone works perfectly. Tools: a hand saw or angle grinder, a chisel and mallet, a rasp, sandpaper (80 and 220 grit), and silicon masonry sealer. Safety: always wear a dust mask and safety goggles when cutting and sanding stone.

Who It's For

This lesson is written for complete beginners. No prior stone carving experience is needed. If you've ever wanted to try stone carving but didn't know where to start, this is it. You'll finish with a real, hand-carved sculpture — something you made yourself from a block of stone.

Delivered as a PDF download. You'll receive a link to download the lesson immediately after purchase.