the thing about whittling that I failed to recall until I set blade to wood again, is that I used to do it compulsively. this was back in the dark ages before neat little fidget toys and the understanding that certain atypical neurological patterns were not, in fact, restricted to seven-year-old boys. a pocketknife and a few interesting bits of wood were a normal-ish thing to always have on your person¹, and no one expects you to look at their face when you're using a knife, so it got me off the hook for not making eye contact as well. useful hobby, plus I won some state fair ribbons for balls in cages² and such.
anyway, I promised my partners I would cease and desist all woodcarving-related activity until I obtained cut-resistant gloves and a knife more suited to the task than the huge stupid rigging knife³ I stole from my ex. and I am struggling with the compulsion like I haven't in years. my hands want to whittle like they don't know how to do anything else.
I went out and rough-cut some carving blanks with a saw, despite the now-quite-painful finger injury. it didn't help.
1. although yes, somewhat unfortunately gendered
2. not kinky
3. a rigging knife is a tool for dealing with marine rope, and usually has a thick heavy blade with a notch or a saw, a marlin spike, and a handle shape that believes ergonomics are for pussies. for woodcarving, you want thin, short blades that can easily slip between wood fibers and are guided using both hands. this has been Knife Facts