CARVING GUIDE
How to carve a pumpkin from a photo
A photo pattern has more detail than a classic jack-o'-lantern, so the order you cut in matters. Give yourself an unhurried evening, and read this once before you start.
The one rule: black on the pattern is cut away and lets light through. White stays on the pumpkin.
What you need
- Your printed pattern, printed at 100%.
- A small serrated carving saw. The saws in inexpensive pumpkin-carving kits work better and more safely than a kitchen knife.
- A pushpin, poker tool, or pounce wheel to transfer the pattern.
- Tape, scissors, and a large spoon or scraper.
- Flour or chalk dust to make the transferred dots easy to see.
- A battery-powered LED light.
- Optional: a drill with small bits for round details, and toothpicks for repairs.
Pick the pumpkin
- Choose a firm pumpkin with no soft spots and a fresh, green-ish stem.
- Find its flattest, smoothest side. That side should be at least an inch (2–3 cm) wider than your pattern in every direction. The Medium 7.1 in (180 mm) pattern suits a typical carving pumpkin. If another size is offered on your pattern page, we can remake an unlocked design at that size for free.
- Carve within a day or two of when you want to show it off. Carved pumpkins usually last a few days to a week, depending on the weather.
Open and thin it
- Cut an opening in the back or the bottom, not around the stem. A bottom opening lets you set the pumpkin over the light, and it keeps the top strong. Angle your saw inward so the piece can't fall through.
- Scoop out the seeds and strings.
- Scrape the inside of the side you'll carve until the wall is about 2–3 cm (roughly an inch) thick. A thinner wall is much easier to saw through and glows brighter. Press on the outside: it should flex slightly.
Transfer the pattern
- Measure the 50 mm calibration bar on your printout. If it isn't 50 mm, reprint at 100% or "Actual size".
- If your pattern printed on several pages, trim one edge of each overlap, line up the matching registration marks, and tape the pages into one sheet first.
- Trim the paper to leave a small border, then cut short slits from the edge toward the pattern every few inches so the paper can bend around the curve.
- Tape it firmly to the pumpkin, pattern centered on the flattest area.
- Poke holes along every edge between black and white, about 3–5 mm apart. Closer dots around small details make them easier to follow.
- Peel the paper off, but keep it nearby as a map. Rub flour or chalk over the surface to make the dots stand out. You can connect them with a washable marker if you like.
Carve
- Start in the middle with the smallest pieces and work outward. Cutting the big openings first weakens the wall you'll need to hold for the fine work. Your pattern page has a carving map that numbers the pieces in this order and marks narrow parts in red.
- Hold the saw straight in and out of the wall and use gentle up-and-down strokes. Don't twist or pry; let the saw do the work.
- Cut large black areas into two or three smaller pieces and push them out from the inside with a finger.
- Keep your hand on the pumpkin away from the path of the blade, and keep checking your paper map so you don't cut a white piece by mistake.
- If a piece breaks off, pin it back with part of a toothpick.
Carving with kids? Let them scoop, poke the dots, and push out cut pieces while an adult handles the saw.
Light it
LED candles or battery lights are the safest choice and don't cook the pumpkin from inside. A brighter light shows more detail, especially for Challenging patterns. If you use a real candle, cut a small vent in the top, keep it away from anything that can burn, and never leave it unattended.
Make it last
- Rub a thin layer of petroleum jelly or vegetable oil on the cut edges to slow drying.
- Keep it out of direct sun and heat. Bringing it somewhere cool overnight helps.
- If it starts to shrivel, a soak in cold water for an hour can revive it.
Our checks confirm the pattern's shapes can be cut at the printed size. Every pumpkin is different, so take your time with fine details.