Woodworking 101 for Women: A Complete Guide: How to Speak the Language, Buy the Tools & Build Fabulous Furniture from Start to Finish

by Marilyn MacEwen

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Woodwork

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2006

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book had a lot of good information, but I don't see particularly how it was "for women" except that it was written by a woman. It seemed like basic Woodworking 101 to me, although it could be comforting to others to be reassured that men aren't born knowing how to use a jigsaw blade to make a dovetail joint. I'm not a huge fan of her starting projects, but that's probably because I'm looking for something more practical than artistic. I'm not picking up this book to find a new hobby but rather to get some remodeling done.
I'm still going to keep it for reference though. Especially for keeping track of what all those tool are...

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably very helpful for people who are quite serious about woodworking, want to invest money in a complete set of tools, or are starting a woodworking business. For a novice like me, it was too much info at too high a level.

[Anna]

I enjoyed the section that was all about the various tools and their uses. Then every single project required a tool I don’t have, a joint I have never cut, or both. I need something easier to start with.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great explanations of types of wood, tools and projects, but I found the intro kind of patronizing. I don't need section titles like "let's go shopping", and woodworking tools are certainly not a psycho-emotional magnet for women's fears. How strange! There is a lot of talk about the author's fears and negative experiences generalized on women as a whole.

I'm also pretty sure most women aren't expecting a lumber yard to serve them tea. However, a lot of them around me do have coffee.

I was hoping for more explanations of how to wrangle large tools and slabs of walnut for small framed humans.

Again, the meat of the book is excellent, but maybe I'm not the kind of woman this book was written for.

[Annette McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant. This book gives really good information on woodworking and should be part of all beginner woodworker's library.