How to carve the pumpkin
Select a fresh pumpkin in a shape that pleases you, some prefer more rounded and flat and some more oval. But the procedure is the same:)
First, draw a circle or hexagon on top of the pumpkin in preparation for making an opening large enough for your hand to reach through, then cut through the stem end of the pumpkin along your outline with a sharp knife or pumpkin-carving tool. Remove the stem end and scrape off any seeds or pulp.
Then use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and pulp from inside the pumpkin.
Draw a pattern for the face on the clean pumpkin with a felt-tip pen, or scribe the lines into the skin using a pencil. Be sure to make the eyes, nose and mouth large enough; you’ll have a hard time cutting out tiny features when you’re using a big knife blade to saw through tough skin.
Follow your pattern as you cut all the way through the pumpkin, and push the cut-out features gently from the inside of the pumpkin and discard the pieces.
And then – you are ready to light the candle inside!
For free carving patterns, click here.
Would you rather see how it’s done? Watch the video here.
