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View all stencils →About this stencil
This design turns the whole pumpkin front into a basketball by shaving the classic seam pattern into the skin: one vertical line, one horizontal line, and two curved side arcs. Nothing is cut through; the grooves alone read instantly as a ball, and the round pumpkin does the rest. It is an easy carve, so just score each line lightly with the stencil in place first, then widen the grooves to an even depth. This design is rated Beginner-friendly and takes most carvers around 30 minutes from trace to glow. Great for kids and first-timers. Big shapes, short cuts.
Pumpkin size guide
- 🎃 Small (5–7") — print at 80%
- 🎃 Medium (7–10") — print at 100% (recommended)
- 🎃 Large (11–13") — print at 130%
- 🎃 Giant (14"+) — print at 150% on tabloid paper
Frequently asked questions
Can I resize this stencil?▾
Yes. The PDF is vector so it scales cleanly. Print at 100% for a 7–10 inch pumpkin, 130% for 11–13 inch, or 150% for a giant. Use your printer's "Fit to page" or "Custom scale" setting.
What kind of paper works best?▾
Standard 20 lb letter or A4 printer paper is fine. Heavier paper is harder to bend around the pumpkin curve. If your printer supports it, set the quality to 'best' so the lines are crisp.
How long will the carved pumpkin last?▾
Usually 5–10 days. Coat all cut surfaces with petroleum jelly and store the pumpkin somewhere cool overnight. Avoid direct sun. Battery LED pumpkin lights produce no heat and double the lifespan.
Can I sell pumpkins carved with this stencil?▾
Yes, the carved pumpkin you make is yours. The license covers personal and small-scale commercial carving (selling carved pumpkins, photographing them, posting on social). You may not resell the PDF file itself.
What if my printer doesn't print the whole stencil?▾
Set 'Page scaling' to 'Fit' in the print dialog and uncheck 'Auto-rotate'. If it still cuts off, the design includes 0.25" of safe-area margin so a small crop won't ruin it.
How to carve this stencil
- 1Print it
Download the PDF and print at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper.
- 2Prep the pumpkin
Cut the lid at an angle, scoop the guts, thin the wall to ~1 inch.
- 3Tape it on
Snip darts in the paper so it lies flat against the curve.
- 4Transfer the design
Poke along every line — about one dot every 1/8 inch.
- 5Carve it
Connect the dots with short straight cuts. Center first, work outward.
- 6Light it up
Drop in a battery LED pumpkin light and you're done.
Tools you'll need
For a beginner-friendly carve like this you'll want a paring knife, spoon / scoop, marker, and led pumpkin light. Here's the kit we reach for — start with whatever you already own.
Elmchee Pumpkin Carving Kit
13-piece kit with carrying case
Saws for the larger cutouts, plus a scoop for hollowing. Covers both jobs in one kit.
View on Amazon ↗
HOME MOST LED Pumpkin Lights
4-pack, battery operated, with remote + timer
Orange glow made for jack-o'-lanterns. The remote and timer light the pumpkin every evening without reaching inside.
View on Amazon ↗
Speedball 4131 Lino Cutter Set
Handle + 5 interchangeable cutters
Interchangeable cutters for peeling and shading the face. Useful for the finer details.
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Community Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Carving ideas that use stencils like this one.
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IntermediateEight-Panel Basketball
A big glowing basketball built from one large circle divided by the ball's signature curved seam lines. The eight panel sections are pierced through while the seam lines stay as intact pumpkin ribs, so the whole ball reads instantly once a candle goes in. The medium challenge is keeping those curved ribs even, so cut alternating panels rather than working around the circle in order, which keeps the wall supported as you go.
IntermediateEight Curved Basketball Wedges
Eight curved wedge openings radiate from the center of the pumpkin, separated by ribs of shell that mimic the seams of a basketball. The wedges are all cut through, so the pumpkin itself becomes a glowing ball when lit. Keep the seam ribs a consistent width as you saw each wedge, and remove the wedge pieces gently by pushing from inside so the long curved ribs are not stressed.
Beginner-friendlyTilted Tennis Racket and Ball
A tilted tennis racket with an open oval head leans across the pumpkin while a round ball floats just below the frame. The racket head, handle, and ball are all cut through as chunky, simple shapes with no interior string detail to fuss over. That makes this an easy pattern for team celebrations; carve the long handle in one steady pass so its edges stay parallel.
IntermediateFive-Panel Soccer Ball
A giant soccer ball covers the face of the pumpkin, built from a central pentagon surrounded by shaved hexagon panels. Nothing is cut through; you peel the skin from the light panels while the pentagons and seam lines stay dark orange, recreating the classic ball pattern. Trace every panel edge with a knife tip before shaving so the straight seams stay crisp, since clean lines are what sell the geometry.
AdvancedDimpled Basketball
A full basketball fills the front of the pumpkin, with curved seam lines and hundreds of tiny pebbled dimples shaved into the surface. Nothing is pierced; you peel the skin inside the circle so the ball glows, leaving the seams as raised rind lines. Work the dimples with a small round gouge and keep your depth shallow and even, since patient repetition is what makes this hard design pop.
AdvancedGymnast in a Split Leap
A gymnast frozen mid split leap, legs stretched into a full horizontal line with arms swept back and hair in a neat bun. The entire figure is cut through as one connected opening, so she glows like a spotlight silhouette on the pumpkin. Rated hard because the legs taper to slim points at the toes; carve from the torso outward and finish the narrow limb tips last with light, shallow strokes.