Best woodcarving knife sets for beginners

Start with the Flexcut KN600 Beginner Palm & Knife Set. Flexcut's palm tools are the classic first kit: a knife plus a couple of palm gouges, sharp out of the box, and small enough to control while you learn. It's the one I'd hand a beginner.

Who the others suit:

• BeaverCraft Starter 3-piece — the best-loved budget route; three knives that cover most whittling, with a huge review base behind them.
• BeaverCraft Spoon Carving Set — if spoons and bowls are the goal, this is the right shape of tool from day one.
• BeaverCraft Basic 4-piece — a step up in steel and handles once you know you'll stick with it.
• AUGSUN 20-piece / Ninonly 17-piece — cheap, broad kits for trying many cuts; expect to sharpen and fettle them.
• AsterOutdoor 12-piece chisel set — for relief and flat work rather than whittling.

Skip the 8- and 9-piece premium sets for now; they're for carvers who already know what they reach for.