What is the best way to carve a pumpkin? With a carving kit or by hand?

Answer 1

It's not just a pumpkin - it's a fancy pumpkin! By removing just the tough orange skin from the pumpkin, suddenly you have a whole new technique. The look is spectacular, especially if some areas are carved all the way through to allow the light from a votive candle.






Steps:


1. Cut out a lid in the top of the pumpkin large enough to fit your hand and a spoon inside.


2. Add a small notch in the back of the lid. The notch will remind you how the lid is positioned, allow smoke and heat to escape, and ensure that the candle receives enough air to remain lit.


3. Scoop out the pulp and seeds. Retain the seeds for roasting.


4. Scrape the inside of the pumpkin in the area where you'll be using the pattern, until that area is about 1 inch thick.


5. Follow the pattern and draw the design on the pumpkin. Areas where the orange skin is left in place will show up as dark. In the case of a ghost, for example, you would completely carve out the eye holes and perhaps a mouth, but remove only the skin in the area of the ghost body.


6. Cut an outline around your design using a sharp knife.


7. Remove the areas that are to be completely cut out (eyes, mouth, nose and so forth).


8. Cut around any raised areas, such as folds of ghostly fabric or spider legs.


9. Begin removing the orange skin part with a vegetable peeler, an or a dedicated pumpkin carving tool.


10. Slowly and carefully remove the orange skin from the desired areas. Take your time, as this is the hard part. Variations in depth will create a more interesting design.


11. Place a votive candle inside the pumpkin once you are finished. The light from the candle will provide an eerie glow.



Tips:

Have a selection of tools on hand: sharp paring knives, an X-Acto knife, vegetable peelers, or best of all, a dedicated pumpkin-carving kit.
Mistakes and slips of the knife can be mended by pinning the skin back in place with a toothpick or two.


Warning: Be careful! Pumpkin skin is tough, and these tools are sharp.

Answer 2

Carving kit is easy but some of the patterns are very detailed and hard to cut on a pumpkin. So choose a pattern with not so many details and you should do great with a kit. The tools in the kits work really good.

Answer 3

what makes it easy and safe 4 u would be the answer by hand u can get cut carving kits sounds safer don't u think don't do it alone have someone help u ok

Answer 4

a carving kit may be less of a hassle

Answer 5

a gigged saw then a knife or a carving kit

Answer 6

You can just use any ol' sharp knife to carve one.

Free "Punkin" (They purposely misspelled it) stencils are available at homestarrunner.com if you're into sbemails, etc. You might like them even if you're not a fan! They're free for anyone who visits.

Answer 7

i think a carving kit's easyer

Answer 8

Disney Faces!

Answer 9

I would do it by hand - the more uneven it is, the scarier it will be.

There's no need for them to look perfectly cut.

Good luck & be safe :-)