How to Carve a Pumpkin Using Pattern Stencils
Here we will walk you step-by-step through the process pros use to turn a pumpkin and a printed pattern or stencil into a finished jack-o-lantern. No artistic skill needed! Just follow the steps and get ready to impress your friends and trick-or-treaters this Halloween.
The steps are laid out below, or check out the VIDEO to see the process in action.
What you will need:
- Pumpkin
- Pumpkin Saw (rough)
- Pumpkin Saw (detail)
- Pumpkin poker (or icepick, push pin, etc.)
- Scraper
- Tape
- Flour
- Tea light candles
1. Choose your pumpkin:
This may not be THE most important step in getting your carving looking great, but choosing the right pumpkin will make your life much easier during the carving process. Choose a pumpkin that (a) sits upright while looking even and (b) has at least one side that is fairly smooth and nearly flat. This side will be your carving surface.
This may not be THE most important step in getting your carving looking great, but choosing the right pumpkin will make your life much easier during the carving process. Choose a pumpkin that (a) sits upright while looking even and (b) has at least one side that is fairly smooth and nearly flat. This side will be your carving surface.
2. Buy and Print your pattern:
Your stencil pattern will print out from a .pdf file and is designed to fit on a standard 8.5" x 11" piece of printer paper.
Your stencil pattern will print out from a .pdf file and is designed to fit on a standard 8.5" x 11" piece of printer paper.
3. Prepare your pumpkin:
Using a steak knife, cut a circular hole in the top of the pumpkin about 6-8" across (depending on the size of your pumpkin). Make sure to angle the knife toward the middle so the lid piece does not fall in, and leave a notch in one part of the "lid" piece to make it easier to put back on.
Using the Scraper, scrape out all of the "guts" inside the pumpkin, then scrape out the inside of the carving surface side of your pumpkin until it is about 1.5-2" thick. This does not have to be precise, but it will look better and be much easier to work with if it is thinned out to this level, especially if you are using one of the more complex designs.
Using a steak knife, cut a circular hole in the top of the pumpkin about 6-8" across (depending on the size of your pumpkin). Make sure to angle the knife toward the middle so the lid piece does not fall in, and leave a notch in one part of the "lid" piece to make it easier to put back on.
Using the Scraper, scrape out all of the "guts" inside the pumpkin, then scrape out the inside of the carving surface side of your pumpkin until it is about 1.5-2" thick. This does not have to be precise, but it will look better and be much easier to work with if it is thinned out to this level, especially if you are using one of the more complex designs.
4. Attach your stencil pattern:
Make several cuts in the paper from the outside toward the inside of the paper without getting too close to the actual pattern. This allows you to take the flat paper and get it onto the rounded pumpkin (Watch the video for a demonstration, this part is hard to describe). This is also why you want a pumpkin with a fairly smooth and flat surface for carving.
Next, tape your stencil pattern to the carving surface of the pumpkin. Use as much tape as it takes to get it on there as flat as possible and so the paper does not move.
Make several cuts in the paper from the outside toward the inside of the paper without getting too close to the actual pattern. This allows you to take the flat paper and get it onto the rounded pumpkin (Watch the video for a demonstration, this part is hard to describe). This is also why you want a pumpkin with a fairly smooth and flat surface for carving.
Next, tape your stencil pattern to the carving surface of the pumpkin. Use as much tape as it takes to get it on there as flat as possible and so the paper does not move.
5. Poke the Pumpkin:
Using the poker, poke shallow holes about 1/10th of an inch apart along the outer edges of all of the black parts of the pattern. Be sure to make the holes closer together on more complex parts of the pattern and you can space them out on straighter sections. Be as precise as possible here because these little holes will guide your carving.
Once you have outlined all of the black sections with small holes, carefully remove the paper pattern. Keep it intact and close by for reference while you are carving.
Using the poker, poke shallow holes about 1/10th of an inch apart along the outer edges of all of the black parts of the pattern. Be sure to make the holes closer together on more complex parts of the pattern and you can space them out on straighter sections. Be as precise as possible here because these little holes will guide your carving.
Once you have outlined all of the black sections with small holes, carefully remove the paper pattern. Keep it intact and close by for reference while you are carving.
6. Powder the Pumpkin:
With the paper stencil removed, rub a few handfuls of flour over the carving surface of the pumpkin that you just poked. Then wipe the excess flour off with a cloth or paper towel. The result will be much more visible white dots for you to follow in the next step.
With the paper stencil removed, rub a few handfuls of flour over the carving surface of the pumpkin that you just poked. Then wipe the excess flour off with a cloth or paper towel. The result will be much more visible white dots for you to follow in the next step.
7. Carve the Pumpkin:
Use your Pumpkin Saw(s), carve out each section of the pattern carefully. Try to keep the saw going straight in and out of the pumpkin so that the pieces come out cleanly. Push each section into the pumpkin from the outside and remove them through the top. Use the paper pattern stencil to guide you if you have a hard time making out any of the sections. Take your time getting each section right. It will be totally worth it!
Use your Pumpkin Saw(s), carve out each section of the pattern carefully. Try to keep the saw going straight in and out of the pumpkin so that the pieces come out cleanly. Push each section into the pumpkin from the outside and remove them through the top. Use the paper pattern stencil to guide you if you have a hard time making out any of the sections. Take your time getting each section right. It will be totally worth it!
8. Check your work:
Bring your pumpkin and a tea light candle into a dark room. put the candle inside, light it, and put the lid on. Make sure everything looks right and that the pattern is complete. If you missed anything, fix it. Once you are happy with the results, proceed to step nine...
Bring your pumpkin and a tea light candle into a dark room. put the candle inside, light it, and put the lid on. Make sure everything looks right and that the pattern is complete. If you missed anything, fix it. Once you are happy with the results, proceed to step nine...
9. Show it off!!
Get your lighted pumpkin in front of everyone you can. You just make an awesome work of art and you should be proud. Display to friends, family and your trick-or-treaters and don't forget to SEND IT TO US so we can put your creation in our recent creations Gallery. It may even make the front page scroll!
Get your lighted pumpkin in front of everyone you can. You just make an awesome work of art and you should be proud. Display to friends, family and your trick-or-treaters and don't forget to SEND IT TO US so we can put your creation in our recent creations Gallery. It may even make the front page scroll!
