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Dennis Murphy

For the students, by the students

The Art of Carving a Jack-O-Lantern
Chelsea Moffitt, CAFNR Corner Post Staff

As Halloween approaches so do hayrides, wiener roasts, and costume parties. But when hosting one of these events it is always important to have good decorations, including the ever popular carved pumpkin. However, the art of carving a pumpkin is not as easy as it may appear.

First, it's important to choose a good pumpkin. Select an un-bruised pumpkin that is smooth and evenly-colored and has a flat bottom so it sits upright. A basketball-sized pumpkin is ideal for most designs.

Next, choose the design you are going to carve. It is often easier to work off a pattern. There are numerous pattern books, including Pumpkin Masters' Carving Patterns, that have excellent designs for pumpkin carving. If the pattern is too large or small for the chosen pumpkin, simply take the design to a copy machine and adjust the size.

Before carving, the pumpkin needs to be cleaned out. For a cleaner, uncut top, cut a circle from the bottom of the pumpkin to clean the pumpkin out, instead of cutting the lid of the pumpkin. Then you can simply lift and place the pumpkin over the light source when complete. After cleaning the inside of the pumpkin scrape away the pulp until the area you plan to carve is about one inch thick. This will make the pumpkin easier to cut into, yet the walls will not be too thin to hold up your design.

When carving, hold the pumpkin in your lap for better control, but be careful not to cut yourself. Use a knife with a serrated edge or a pumpkin carving saw to carefully cut the rind of the pumpkin. Carve dot-to-dot and refer to your pattern often. It is helpful to sketch your design on your pumpkin before starting.

Now all that is left is displaying your pumpkin masterpiece. Sprinkle your pumpkin's base/lid with cinnamon or pumpkin spice for a festive scent. When using a candle to light up your pumpkin cut a hole on the back of your pumpkin for the heat to escape. Now all that is left to do is hand out the candy!

For more information, contact the following sites:
Spookmaster.com
The Pumpkin Farm
Carving Pumpkins.com

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