sheckys.com

I’m from Scotland, where the excitement of Halloween usually ends mid-teen. I have never tried to eat anything pumpkin, let alone carve one!

But with a push from the editors, I ventured into the American world of pumpkin carving. If like me, the idea of potentially mutilating a bright, shiny pumpkin with a too-sharp knife scares you, here’s my idiot’s guide (me—not you!) to carving the best Halloween pumpkin. Oh, and I found other designs for the more advanced carvers. Read on!

-Ashley Jardine

STEP 1: PICKING THE RIGHT PUMPKIN IS ESSENTIAL

Pick a pumpkin from a local field or a local supermarket, drugstore, etc. Knock on the outside of the pumpkin to test how thick the walls are (if it breaks, slyly put it back and take another…shh!). Choose one that is smooth on at least one side, and has a well-attached stalk—this indicates healthiness.

STEP 2: GET THE MESSY PART OVER WITH FIRST

Lay out plenty of newspaper or other covering to catch all that orange gunk! Slice the top off your pumpkin, and scoop out all the seeds and flesh using a spoon.

TIP: The inside of the pumpkin is not so much gooey as it is stringy, and I found that a spoon and/or knife just didn’t doing the job at times, so I used a pair of scissors to snip off the spindly fibers…something I like to call the pumpkin haircut!

STEP 3: CHOOSE A SCARY PATTERN

A dedicated all-things-pumpkin site like Zombie Pumpkins or DLTK Holidays will do the trick. Print out your selection (or improvise like I did when my printer broke!), cut the eyes, etc. out and draw around them using a marker or pencil.

STEP 4: CUT AWAY

Using a small bladed, sharp knife, carefully cut out your pattern starting (I say this in retrospect) with the bottom first—if you begin cutting at the top, you will end up having to hold the pumpkin where it is most fragile. Be patient and careful as you manipulate that knife (kids need supervision!!!). Depending on how thick your pumpkin is, you may need to push the pieces through…just be gentle! On my pattern, the teeth were the most intricate part.

STEP 5: SCOOP OUT ALL THE EXTRA BITS

Round off your eyes, nose and mouth with a spoon and trim with the scissors.

STEP 6: LIGHT IT UP!

Turn off the lights and admire you work! Can you tell that I tried Jack Skellington fromNightmare Before Christmas?

If my very amateur skills of pumpkin carving have had you in stitches…much like Mr. Skellington’s mouth…then fear not experts of the carve! We have other more detailed patterns to challenge those pumpkin skills.