5 tips for carving a pumpkin this Halloween

1. Start by picking the perfect pumpkin. The perfect pumpkin doesn’t have to be smooth and round. There are plenty of pumpkins with a little more character that can complement and elevate your design. Keep in mind the following features to look for when picking a pumpkin: enough surface area, no bruises, sturdy stem, and a flat bottom. It can also make it easier to find a pumpkin if you have your design in mind when shopping. This way you’ll know what size and shape you want your pumpkin to be.
2. Carve the initial hole. Depending on your preference, you can carve out a hole from the top or the bottom of the pumpkin. Some say that cutting it from the top causes the pumpkin to cave in on itself faster. If you do cut it from the top make sure to cut it at an angle. Cutting a hole in the bottom can also make it easier to get the seeds out, as most of them are already at the bottom.
3. Trace your design onto the pumpkin. Carving freehand can be pretty risky, and there are a lot of ways to trace your design on beforehand. You can draw or print out a design onto paper, then tape it to your pumpkin and poke holes using a fork or pencil along where you want to carve. Alternatively, you can draw your design directly onto your pumpkin with a marker, and then wipe off any left-over marker later with rubbing alcohol.
4. Carve your pumpkin. Start with bigger pieces first, and then work on the finer details. If you are doing a more intricate design, instead of taking the carved pieces out, leave them in while you are still carving to keep the pumpkin sturdier.
5. Preserve your pumpkin. It’s best to carve your pumpkin within a few days of Halloween, but there is still a way to make it last a little longer. You can put petroleum jelly on the carved parts of the pumpkin to prevent the pumpkin from oxidizing as quickly.

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