Tools of the Trade You can certainly carve a pumpkin with nothing more than a small kitchen knife. But who would want to when you can create a prize jack-o'-lantern with the tools below?
Serrated knives
- These come in a variety of sizes for big and little cuts.
- Heavy-duty versions of this knife have larger zigzag serrations for cutting through tough pumpkin skin.
Double-edged serrated knife
- The tiniest model is great for hard-to-get spots.
- You can saw in both directions, which comes in handy when you're making the perfect evil eyeball.
Utility knife
A strong, sharp mat knife is easily able to cut through even the toughest pumpkin rind.
Craft knife
This artist's tool can make delicate patterns or help you cut out little tough-to-reach spots.
Melon baller
Scrape away the final layer of stringy innards with this super scooper.
Apple corer
- Use the traditional coring motion to make a polka-dot pumpkin.
- Or drag the edge of the corer to make snaky stripes that don't penetrate the entire skin of the pumpkin.
Linocut tool
Used to cut linoleum in printmaking, a linocut cutter is a handy tool for peeling away strands of pumpkin flesh to draw delicate patterns or features.
Sculptor's loop
When it comes to making swirling lines in the pumpkin rind, this tool works even better than the apple corer. The key: Make sure you don't go all the way through the rind.
Cookie cutters and hammer
We've had good luck lightly hammering old-fashioned cookie cutters part way into the pumpkin's flesh. The trick: Gently pull out the cookie cutter and use a linoleum cutter to scrape away the pumpkin rind within the cookie-cutter shape. The light will shine nicely through the remaining layer of rind. Or hammer a small cutter all the way through.
Keyhole saw
This is the perfect tool for cutting out a lid or making an opening in the bottom of the pumpkin.
Pumpkin scoop and shovel
Say goodbye to seeds with these handy tools.
Drill
This serves as a wonderful hole-poker.
Tips
- Cut a hole in the bottom of your pumpkin for your candle. That leaves the entire top of the pumpkin for creative carving.
- How about using small electric light fixtures or a string of fairy lights to illuminate your jack-o'-lantern?
- Pumpkin-carving tools can be found at most craft, art and hardware stores.
This article is from the September/October 1999 issue of HGTV Ideas magazine.
