Every Autumn we see the rise of the same arts and crafts: Carving pumpkins, painting pumpkins, baking, knitting, and too many more to list here. In a recent poll taken of the WHS student body, nearly half of the students agreed that carving pumpkins was their favorite Fall activity to participate in. There is truly something nostalgic about carving jack-o-lanterns, and while the activity clearly remains enjoyable to many, there are a few things you can experiment with in order to renovate this tradition this Autumn.
Pick the right pumpkin.
The perfect pumpkin is a pumpkin of medium size, with no bruises, and a flat
bottom (so it won’t move around while you carve).
Use stencils and plan out your carving.
Stencils are available pretty much anywhere online, and they come in many unique styles and patterns to suit any person’s desires for his/her pumpkin. Using a pencil, then a sharpie, to trace your design onto a piece of paper, or even onto your pumpkin before you carve is also strongly suggested.
Use the proper carving tools.
If you plan on carving intricate details and patterns into your pumpkin, X-Acto knives are the way to go. Making layered cuts with these tools can create a unique design for your pumpkin. For larger, longer cuts into your pumpkin, a serrated kitchen knife works best. The serrated knives give a person freedom to carve curves instead of having to painstakingly carve little straight lines for their pumpkin’s smile or eyes.
Start big, then get detailed.
When carving your pumpkin, get the bigger cuts out first, then go back and smooth over edges, and add details. **While carving, some suggest holding the pumpkin in your lap, which makes it easier to complete designs that match up to your imagination.**
Don’t just discard scraps!
A unique way to make your pumpkin stand out is to use the scraps of pumpkin you’ll have left over from carving as props or special features for your jack-o-lantern. For example, you could use a piece of pumpkin as a tongue, as eyebrows, or even glasses.
Happy pumpkin carving!
Written by: Hannah Lutz
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