This is a cut-through stencil: the gray areas on the printable pattern are the pieces you remove, and everything white stays attached. The steps below give you the safest carving order. Plan on about 45-60 minutes from print to candle.

Set up first. Print the PDF at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper. Cut the lid at an angle, scoop the pumpkin clean, and thin the carving wall to about 1 inch where the design will sit. Tape the pattern on (snip small darts in the paper so it hugs the curve) and transfer every outline by poking dots along the lines, about one every 1/8 inch. Peel the paper away and carve dot to dot with short, straight strokes.

Carving order

1. Start along the wings. Plunge in at the large upper wing and cut its long sweeping curves first, working into the notch where the two wings meet with cuts from both sides.
2. Work the fine extremities. Cut around the extended hand, the hair bun, the small face notch, and the pointed skirt tips. Each tapers to a narrow point, so cut toward every tip from both directions and never twist the blade at a point.
3. Cut the legs and lower body. Follow the long trailing legs down to the pointed toes. These skinny runs flex easily, so keep one hand flat against the pumpkin behind the cut.
4. Release the plug. Leave a small tab attached along the straight back of the figure until the entire outline is cut. Support the large plug from outside, cut the tab, and ease the whole fairy through in one piece.

Clear loose fibers out of each opening as you go, and never twist or pry the blade against the shell; back it out and recut instead. When every piece is out, wipe the cut edges dry and drop in a battery LED puck.