Interwoven Pentagram Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a tall, round pumpkin and clean it out

   Choose a pumpkin with a broad, even front face so the circle and star sit flat and read clearly. Cut a lid from the top or, better for this design, open a hatch in the back so the front stays uninterrupted. Scoop the guts and scrape the inside wall behind the design down to about one inch thick. A thinner wall makes the angled cuts glow and is easier on your blade.

2. 2

   Transfer the ring and star pattern

   Print a pentagram-in-a-circle stencil sized to your pumpkin and tape it flat, snipping the edges so it hugs the curve. Use a poking tool or push pin to dot along every line, including both edges of each star band and the inner and outer edge of the ring. Pay close attention to the five small triangles between the star points, since those stay uncut. Peel the paper and connect the dots lightly with a marker before you cut anything.

3. 3

   Score and thin the star bands first

   Start with the interior star, cutting the five long triangular bands one at a time with a small saw blade. Use gentle, straight strokes and let the saw do the work rather than forcing it. Keep the narrow uncut triangles between the points completely untouched, as they hold the star together. Cutting these small inner shapes first, while the rest of the pumpkin is still solid, gives you the most support.

4. 4

   Open the ring segments

   The glowing circle is the band between the star and the outer ring line. Cut this away in the five separate arc sections rather than as one continuous ring, so the bridges that connect the star tips to the outer edge remain. Take your time at each point where a star tip meets the ring, since those junctions are fragile. If a piece resists, wiggle the blade instead of prying, which can crack a bridge.

5. 5

   Angle the cuts to throw light outward

   For the side-table glow shown, bevel the inner edges of the star bands so they open wider toward the inside of the pumpkin. Hold the saw at a slight outward angle as you clean each cut, which flares the light in five directions. Test-fit a battery LED puck inside as you go and adjust any wall that looks too thick. Trim slowly, since you can always remove more but cannot add rind back.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph at dusk

   Drop in one or two bright LED lights and set the pumpkin at table height for the best angle, matching the warm evening look. Check that every star band and ring segment glows evenly and shave the inside of any dim spot. Wipe the cut edges dry and add a thin smear of petroleum jelly to slow shrinking. Shoot your photo just after sunset when the sky still holds color.