How to Carve a Pumpkin

Do you want to know how to carve a pumpkin? There’s no trick to carving a pumpkin, all you need are the right tools and it’ll be a real treat!

1) Use a serrated knife to cut a lid on the top of the pumpkin around the stem. Make sure to cut at an angle so that when you replace the “lid” later it won’t fall through

2) Scoop out the seeds and loose fibres. Make sure to level out the base of the pumpkin so that your candle(s) don’t sit at an angle.

3) Use your marker to draw your desired pattern. Using a red or similar coloured marker means that you won’t easily see any remaining lines once carved. Alternatively, there are paper templates available online that you can use. Simply print one out and tape it to the pumpkin, then use a sharp pointed knife and poke out the outline through the paper onto the pumpkin. Once traced in this way, remove the template to reveal the marked outlines.

4) Carve the pumpkin using your various knives, following the design drawn or poked onto the pumpkin. Firmly support the back of the pumpkin with your free hand while you carve out the shapes. As you carve out more or the shapes, areas may become weak, so work slowly. Using a serrated knife is quicker for bigger sections like the mouth. Use smaller or thinner knives for smaller details and corners. Once your pumpkin is carved, place 1-3 tealight candles inside, depending on the size of your pumpkin, then once lit, replace the lid.