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Step 6Carving!
At last, the fun part!
I find it is easiest to carve a pumpkin when it's sitting in my lap. Find a comfortable place to sit (I prefer my couch) in a well-lit room. With your pattern beside you for reference, and a bowl for cuttings, grab your saw because you're ready to start.
But first! A few carving tips. The saws can be fragile, so don't force them. When you push a saw through the pumpkin, hold it near the tip of the blade and carefully push it in. This is more accurate, and prevents the blade from bending. Ensure that the blade is entering the pumpkin perpendicular to the pumpkin's surface on all sides - you can't change the angle once it's in (that will just bend the blade).
Don't push the saw forward with too mush force. It's best to use short, fast strokes for most of the pattern, letting the teeth do the cutting. In detailed sections, use single strokes, realigning the blade each time but never twisting it too much.
Finally, always make sure that the blade goes all the way through the pumpkin, or you'll have to re-cut those lines. That's something you want to avoid.
Got all that? Okay, start carving! In most cases, you'll want to start at the center of a pattern and work outwards from there. In general, you want to make sure there is uncarved pumpkin on at least one side of the section you're working on. Some patterns will have a very detailed section on the side or in a corner - in that case you may want to start there instead. Work on the small detailed bits first, then cut out the large sections. Again, be patient and take your time. Rotate the pumpkin in your lap to get a better angle or a better view of the pattern lines. Make sure you hand doesn't rest on a carved section.
Once you've cut out a piece, try pushing it in or out of the pumpkin (either way is fine). It should come loose easily - if not, you may have to re-saw a corner (that's what usually prevents a piece from coming out). Attack the corner from two directions, sawing towards it. There may also be a section where the blade didn't go all the way through - simply re-saw those sections. If the piece is too small to push with a finger, try using the end of a pen or a matchstick to push it through - avoid using the saw blade to push unless the piece is so loose that it just slides right out.
When you remove a piece you should be able to see straight through to the inside. If not, and the hole on the inside of the pumpkin is much smaller than the outside, you can re-cut the inside hole using the saw to make it larger.
Hopefully by now you've gotten a feel for the work. Again, patience is the key here, so be careful where you cut and refer to the pattern often. Take the time to make precise cuts and don't force the saw. It's easier and faster to do it right the first time, than to do repairs later. If your hand starts to get tired (and it will!) take a few minutes to rest. This is supposed to be fun, not painful!
I find it is easiest to carve a pumpkin when it's sitting in my lap. Find a comfortable place to sit (I prefer my couch) in a well-lit room. With your pattern beside you for reference, and a bowl for cuttings, grab your saw because you're ready to start.
But first! A few carving tips. The saws can be fragile, so don't force them. When you push a saw through the pumpkin, hold it near the tip of the blade and carefully push it in. This is more accurate, and prevents the blade from bending. Ensure that the blade is entering the pumpkin perpendicular to the pumpkin's surface on all sides - you can't change the angle once it's in (that will just bend the blade).
Don't push the saw forward with too mush force. It's best to use short, fast strokes for most of the pattern, letting the teeth do the cutting. In detailed sections, use single strokes, realigning the blade each time but never twisting it too much.
Finally, always make sure that the blade goes all the way through the pumpkin, or you'll have to re-cut those lines. That's something you want to avoid.
Got all that? Okay, start carving! In most cases, you'll want to start at the center of a pattern and work outwards from there. In general, you want to make sure there is uncarved pumpkin on at least one side of the section you're working on. Some patterns will have a very detailed section on the side or in a corner - in that case you may want to start there instead. Work on the small detailed bits first, then cut out the large sections. Again, be patient and take your time. Rotate the pumpkin in your lap to get a better angle or a better view of the pattern lines. Make sure you hand doesn't rest on a carved section.
Once you've cut out a piece, try pushing it in or out of the pumpkin (either way is fine). It should come loose easily - if not, you may have to re-saw a corner (that's what usually prevents a piece from coming out). Attack the corner from two directions, sawing towards it. There may also be a section where the blade didn't go all the way through - simply re-saw those sections. If the piece is too small to push with a finger, try using the end of a pen or a matchstick to push it through - avoid using the saw blade to push unless the piece is so loose that it just slides right out.
When you remove a piece you should be able to see straight through to the inside. If not, and the hole on the inside of the pumpkin is much smaller than the outside, you can re-cut the inside hole using the saw to make it larger.
Hopefully by now you've gotten a feel for the work. Again, patience is the key here, so be careful where you cut and refer to the pattern often. Take the time to make precise cuts and don't force the saw. It's easier and faster to do it right the first time, than to do repairs later. If your hand starts to get tired (and it will!) take a few minutes to rest. This is supposed to be fun, not painful!
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