Halloween pumpkin carving - tips?

[stroudydad]

My personal faves..

[stroudydad]

Oh my! They are amazing! Love the ET one! I've just seen people on youtube drilling into their pumpkins. I realized what a 'country art' it was, and perhaps not just an American one.

Also found an extraordinary pumpkin carving knife set for 21 quid! Is this going to be my new hobby?!

May I ask where the kit is from?

[fatbananas]

Moonrakerknives dot co dot uk. Called a warren pro carving set.

Also came across an Eden Project guide. I didn't know you didn't gave to pierce all the way through the skin ... Might just use a good paring knife and give that technique a try.

[stroudydad]

Ok I use:
junior hacksaw blades with one end snipped off to a point.
Coping saw blades again with one end snipped
A miniature set of files (cost me 1.99)
A steak knife..

ET above is carved to varying thicknesses, using a linocutter kit.

[Stroller]

A Sharpie is a felt tip or with a fairly robust tip and ink that won't smudge. Most stationers have them. Others probably work fine, but I'd reach for a sharpie first for the outlining.

I thought the Waitrose kit wouldn't last but we've used it multiple times - the one we bought was great.

[mike1880]

A small Sabatier type knife will do the job as long as you're not too ambitious. Think yourself lucky you're carving a pumpkin, in my day it as a swede. Not only do you need a diamond tooth saw to carve a swede, it smell like nothing on earth when you slap in a tea light.

[fatbananas]

A small Sabatier type knife will do the job as long as you're not too ambitious. Think yourself lucky you're carving a pumpkin, in my day it as a swede. Not only do you need a diamond tooth saw to carve a swede, it smell like nothing on earth when you slap in a tea light.

you've taken me right back to my time in the brownies! They used swedes too! Were pumpkins around as much in the 70s?

Like the look of the Lino cutters and bought myself a paring knife this morning. Will keep you posted!

[stroudydad]

I use an old style biro, it indents the skin also,

[Rosy Pippin]

Yup, my DCs fall around laughing when I tell them I had a turnip lantern. And the smell......yuk. (PS The Waitrose kit for pumpkins is great, have used for many years now)

[southbucks3]

Swede here too.
I hate carving pumpkins, hate the smell and the "entrails".