Carving a Jack-o'-lantern

Carving freehand does not restrict you to the traditional triangle and circle cuts. Get as creative as you like. The key is to plan ahead, sketching out your design before you take up the knife.

1. Choose the smoothest side of your pumpkin for your design.
   
   
2. Sketch out a few designs on paper until you find one you are happy with. Then, sketch the design on the pumpkin with a permanent marker.
   
   

3. Good Idea:  For better control when carving your pumpkin, use a small serrated knife.

   Cut an opening in the top of the pumpkin large enough for your hand to fit through easily. Instead of trying to cut a perfectly round top, draw and cut out a six-sided lid on top of your pumpkin. As you cut, angle the knife towards the center of the pumpkin to make a ledge that will support the lid. Before you remove the lid, make a notch in it so you can remove it easily.
   
   
4. Scoop out the insides. Try to scrape the inner wall of the pumpkin until it is no more than an inch thick.
   
   

5. Start your cutting with the smallest interior features (a).

   Cut out the design. Start by carving the smallest, interior features (a). Next, carve the "inside" lines (b) of each feature in the pattern before you carve the "outside" lines (c).
   
   
6. Make the cuts straight into the pumpkin, not at an angle. To make sharp corners, always remove the tool and reinsert it at another angle.
   
   
7. When you finish cutting, gently push out the pieces from the inside.
   
   
8. Before you place a candle, cut a hole in the bottom the same diameter as the candle. You can also place a small battery-operated light in the pumpkin.
   
   

9. Safety Note: Never leave a burning candle unattended.

   If you use a candle, make a small hole in the top of the pumpkin with a drill so most of the heat can escape. This will make your jack-o'-lantern last longer.

Stencils allow you to easily create intricate designs. You can use many of the same tools for carving freehand or you can purchase a carving kit.

1. Choose a jack-o'-lantern design to carve.
   
   
2. Follow directions in steps 1, 3 and 4 from Carving Freehand.
   
   
3. Use pushpins to secure the corners of your paper stencil to the pumpkin. It won't fit perfectly, so you may want to cut the edges of the paper to better fit the curves of the pumpkin.
   
   
4. Use the punch tool to punch through the stencil along the outline. Smooth down the stencil where you're working to keep it in place. Be sure to complete the entire pattern before removing the stencil.
   
   
5. Remove the stencil, but keep it as a reference in case you have trouble seeing where the lines are.
   
   
6. Cut out the design. Be sure to carve the "inside" lines of each feature in the pattern before you carve the "outside" lines (see step 5 from Carving Freehand).
   
   
7. When you finish cutting, gently push out the pieces from the inside.
   
   
8. Before you place a candle, cut a hole in the bottom the same diameter as the candle. You can also place a small battery-operated light in the pumpkin.
   
   
9. If you use a candle, drill a small hole in the top of the pumpkin with a drill so most of the heat can escape. This will make your jack-o'-lantern last longer. Remember, never leave a burning candle unattended.

Below are some ideas to get you started. Click each to download a full-size, printable stencil.