Nearly half of all new woodworkers are female--but few guides focus especially on their needs. Here’s one that does. Written by professional woodworker Marilyn MacEwen, it gives women the skills and confidence to enter this traditionally masculine preserve, from mastering complex techniques to handling advanced projects. In detail, MacEwen covers wood types and their characteristics, shows how to set up an efficient workshop, discusses and demystifies tools, explains how to read woodworking plans, and offers 16 practical and great-looking items to make, including a bed, chair, CD cabinet, and dining room table. Plus, there are invaluable tips on the ergonomics of working with wood with a woman’s physique, and how to deal with the macho culture of the lumberyard.

The purpose of my research is to understand how a woodworking class taught for and by women affects student’s comfort level and confidence in approaching the traditionally ‘male’ spaces and practices of woodshops and woodworking. I was able to research this by teaching a series of 101 woodworking classes with my collaborator Lesley Jackson at the ReBuilding Exchange in Chicago. My interest in creating a space for women to learn woodworking skills has stemmed from my own experience and observations as a woman working in industrial shop spaces. My research questions include: how does gender affect one’s desire to participate in a shop class? What are students’ motivations for taking our class? What do students gain through this experience, in addition to shop skills? We called our class Mindful Making. Each session met once a week for three hours over the course of five weeks. Each class had 3 to 7 adult students who identified as female. Students completed two projects, creating a shelf and a bench or stool. The curriculum covered how to use common stationary power tools, hand tools, best safety practices, and the properties of wood. Jackson and I discussed our observations and personal experiences with each other, journaled, took photographs, and distributed a survey at the end of the five-week session in order to collect data about students’ experience and learning outcomes. To date, Jackson and I have taught 3 sessions of Mindful Making together. Our goal by the conclusion of each session was for students to feel a sense of belonging in a woodshop. Through learning fundamental woodworking skills in a supportive and nurturing environment, students reported that they gained confidence and pride in their abilities. Along with technical skills, students gained knowledge of the terminology used in the hardware store and within industrial shops. Many students expressed a desire to continue to build on the skills they learned in class. Students often reported that they felt more comfortable asking questions in an environment created for and by women. They were not embarrassed by their initial lack of experience, rather they felt at ease learning along-side one another and formed a sense of community in so doing.

One of America's most accomplished woodworkers, Linda Hendry, guides other women step-by-step, through 15 Easy-to-Build Projects for the Home and Garden. The book is designed to build your confidence through full-color photographs and easy-to-understand language geared specifically toward women.

With easy to follow instructions that do a complete job of explaining all you need to know to plan, design and build your first project, this is an informative and entertaining book of women willing to share their woodworking stories, insights and advice. It is ideal for the complete beginner or for those wishing to know those finer points of measuring, marking and joint making.

-- Expert tips and techniques of finish carpentry. -- Covers the techniques, materials, and tools for exterior trim, stairs, wallboard, cellings, interior moldings, shelves, cabinets, closets, and more.

Fast and easy woodworking projects, from toys to furniture, folk art to garden items.

"A comprehensive, highly visual self-teaching guide that will help any beginner become a confident woodworker in no time"--