Six-Opening Celtic Knot Pumpkin with Interlaced Bands

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Hollow the pumpkin

   Cut a bottom lid and scoop out all pulp. Aim for a wall of just under one inch. Thin enough to let the scored grooves show, but not so thin that the broad rind bands become fragile under the multiple openings.

2. 2

   Transfer every point from the template

   Tape the template firmly and use a scratch awl to mark every aperture corner and every interlace crossing point. Remove the template and connect the marks using a ballpoint pen for the crossing line paths and a marker for the aperture outlines.

3. 3

   Cut the three teardrop apertures

   Starting with the largest teardrop, cut each of the three teardrop shapes as fully enclosed apertures. Keep the broad rind bands between them intact. Teardrop tips are fragile, so converge two angled strokes to meet at the tip rather than trying to cut through the point in one stroke.

4. 4

   Cut the three smaller curved openings

   Cut the three smaller curved apertures as independent holes. Keep each one clearly separated from the nearest teardrop aperture. Curved cuts are easiest with the tip of a detail knife rotated slightly as you pull.

5. 5

   Score the interlace crossing grooves

   After all six through-cuts are complete, score each crossing groove as a shallow backed line. At every other crossing point, leave a small un-scored gap to create the over-under knot illusion. Work from one crossing point to the next in smooth single strokes.

6. 6

   Light with a flickering LED

   A flickering LED candle inside emphasizes the depth of the over-under groove pattern as the light shifts. Display the pumpkin where viewers can approach closely enough to appreciate the interlace scoring detail.

Written with AI to match this design