How to Carve a Pumpkin with a Stencil
A printed pattern takes the guesswork out of carving. Here is the whole process, from scooping to lighting it up.
What you need
- A pumpkin with a smooth, fairly flat front and a sturdy stem
- A printed pattern (any design from our pumpkin carving stencil library)
- A small serrated carving saw and a big spoon or scoop (a carving kit has both)
- A pin tool or pushpin, and tape
- A tea light, candle, or LED light
- Optional: petroleum jelly to keep the cut edges fresh
1. Cut a lid and clean it out
Cut a circle around the stem, angled toward the center so the lid does not fall in. Scoop out the seeds and strings. Scrape the inside of the front wall until it is about 1 inch thick. A thinner wall is much easier to cut and lets more light through.
2. Print at the right size
Measure the flat front of your pumpkin. On a design page, pick Small, Medium, or Large, or type your own width. Print at 100% (in the print dialog choose "Actual size", not "Fit to page"), then check the 1-inch bar at the bottom of the page with a ruler.
3. Poke the pattern through
Tape the printout to the front of the pumpkin. On a curved pumpkin, cut small slits from the edge of the paper toward the design so it lies flat. Poke holes along every edge of the black shapes, about 1/8 inch apart. Take the paper off. Rub a little flour over the dots if they are hard to see.
4. Carve
Cut out the black parts only. The white parts stay. Start with the small pieces near the middle and work outward, so the pumpkin stays strong while you work. Hold the saw straight in and use short up-and-down strokes. Push each piece out from the inside instead of pulling it.
Go slowly around the bridges, the narrow strips of skin that hold the white parts in place. If one breaks, pin it back with a toothpick.
5. Light it and keep it fresh
Put a tea light or LED light inside and replace the lid. With a real flame, cut a small chimney hole in the lid and never leave it burning alone. Rub petroleum jelly on the cut edges and keep the pumpkin out of direct sun. A carved pumpkin usually lasts 3 to 5 days.
