No More Carving With A Butcher Knife
When my daughter was little we carved jack-o-lanterns with a butcher knife from the kitchen drawer, because there was no such thing as a pumpkin carving kit back then.
Carving a pumpkin was a delicate procedure, since butcher knives and little girls don't mix. Her father or I always had to do the cutting, and what fun is there in that, when you have to sit idly by while your parents do all the fun parts of the carving--the eyes, the nose, the mouth?
One year we "drew" features on a pumpkin using a hammer and nail, which was okay, but not as much fun as having a real carved jack-o-lantern that could be lit.
These days, you don't have to worry about keeping your children at a safe distance while you carve their jack-o-lanterns with a butcher knife. There are all kinds of pumpkin carving kits on the market now. This page will feature a few of those kits all in one place for you.
Photo courtesy of Nick Taylor on Flickr
Tired of skimpy blades that bend and break?
There's nothing more frustrating than starting to carve a Halloween pumpkin, and having your carving knife blade bend or break right off. This pumpkin carving kit features a sturdy brass and walnut knife handle, with several different blades that will make it easy to do the rough carving, then add the smaller, finishing details.
This carving knife is quick and easy to clean, no more "pumpkin guts" stuck all over.
Do you need some pumpkin carving inspiration?
This short, approx. three-minute video shows some of the more than five thousand jack-o-lanterns that have been hand-carved, and are on display for the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island.
Versatile carving kit
This set will do everything quickly and easily, from cutting the top off the pumpkin, to taking out the "guts", to carving the face. One excellent feature is that the tools have stainless steel blades that go all the way to the handle, which will prevent breaking and slippage. The wooden base can be used to hold and turn the pumpkin as you work.
Note: There are some small parts that could be a choking hazard, so keep away from small children.
Pumpkin Carving Poll
An easier way to remove pumpkin "guts"
The least fun part of carving a Halloween jack-o-lantern is removing the "guts". It used to be you'd have to lay out some newspaper, then reach into the cold, slimey interior of the pumpkin, then try to pull out a handful of slippery "guts". Not only was it a messy, sticky, job, but you'd usually end up with pumpkin "guts" on your clothes, in your hair, and all over the floor.
Now you can remove those pumpkin "guts" quicker, easier, and with less mess. Just insert this Pumpkin Gutter into a regular household drill, and it will do the job for you. Don't worry, you can still roast the pumpkin seeds after, because this tool doesn't break the seeds.
The Pumpkin Gutter has been used by Martha Stewart, Billy Ray Cyrus, and chef Emeril Lagasse.
For intricate pumpkin designs
For doing the more intricate jack-o-lantern designs, try this cordless Dremel carving tool. It runs on four AA batteries, which they don't include in the package, and runs at two speeds, for better control over the carving process.
If you need some designs to inspire you and get you started, there are ten carving templates included with the carving tool.
Don't stop at carving pumpkins. With this tool, you can just as easily carve designs on apples, gourds, or even bars of soap.
Are you in the Vermont area?
Vermont Pumpkins: The Orange Gourds In Your Garden
If you happen to be in or around Vermont, this page features places to pick your own pumpkins, as well as pumpkin activities around the state.
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