Striped Curly Witch Hat Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick your pumpkin and transfer the design

   Choose a tall, fairly round pumpkin with a smooth front panel and a stem that leans a little, which echoes the tilted hat. Tape your printed hat pattern to the front and poke the outlines with a pushpin or a poking tool, spacing dots every quarter inch. Peel the paper away and connect the dots lightly with a washable marker. Keep the whole hat shape well inside the widest part of the pumpkin so you have flat surface to work on.

2. 2

   Cut the lid and clean out the inside

   Have an adult cut a lid. A hole in the bottom or the back works better than the top here so the leaning stem stays intact as decoration. Scoop out the seeds and pulp, then thin the front wall from the inside to about one inch thick using a sturdy scoop. A thinner wall makes the curved stripes much easier to cut cleanly.

3. 3

   Carve the three crown stripes from the center out

   Start with the broad curved stripes in the crown of the hat. Work with a small serrated saw blade and cut each stripe from its center toward the ends so the blade does not wander. Keep every rind section between the stripes at least a third of an inch wide so the crown does not sag or buckle. Push the cut pieces gently inward and out rather than yanking them.

4. 4

   Cut the wavy brim slots

   Move down to the brim and cut its wavy slots as separate openings, not connected to the crown stripes. Follow the gentle S curve slowly, turning the pumpkin instead of twisting your wrist. Leaving a solid band of rind between the crown and the brim keeps the two shapes distinct and structurally strong.

5. 5

   Finish the spiral curl at the tip

   Save the small spiral curl at the point of the hat for last since it is the most delicate cut. Use a fine detail saw or a craft knife and keep the curl attached to the surrounding rind along its outer edge so it does not fall in. Take short, patient strokes. Clean up any ragged edges with the tip of your blade.

6. 6

   Light it and stage the photo

   Drop in a battery LED puck or a short string of warm LED lights, never a candle, especially near a sofa or fireplace. Set the pumpkin on a stable side table and dim the room so the three stripes throw clear bands of light. If any edge looks fuzzy, shave a thin sliver to sharpen it. Rub a little petroleum jelly on the cut edges to slow drying.