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View all stencils →About this stencil
The Locs Portrait pumpkin stencil is a free printable PDF template. Print it, tape the pattern on, and trace it onto your pumpkin. A close-up portrait of a man with long twisted locs, rendered in bold cut-through shapes that frame his eyes, cheekbones, and jaw in dramatic silhouette. The face is built from large negative spaces separated by solid orange bridges, so candlelight floods the features when lit. Start by cutting the forehead and cheek openings first; leave the thin vertical bridge between the nose and mouth intact until last to prevent the whole face from sagging during carving. It makes a fun jack-o'-lantern design for Halloween night. It is rated Expert / Pro. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Intricate details and fragile supports need patience. Technique depends on the design; follow its PDF rather than assuming multiple depth layers.
Pumpkin size guide
- 🎃 Small (5 to 7"): print at 80%
- 🎃 Medium (7 to 10"): print at 100% (recommended)
- 🎃 Large (11 to 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 the pattern at 100% for a 7 to 10 inch pumpkin, 130% for 11 to 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 to 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 help it last longer.
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
- Print and tape the stencil, then transfer all lines by poking a fine pin tool every 3, 4 mm.
- Begin with the largest open areas: the forehead void and the wide cheek openings on each side.
- Cut the eye socket shapes next, working outward from the center of each to reduce tearing.
- Move to the jaw and chin cutouts, keeping the thin horizontal strip between nose and mouth as a bridge.
- Cut the individual loc segments last, treating each wavy shape as its own isolated piece.
- Light with a single tea-light set low inside so the portrait features glow upward and the loc texture reads as a warm halo.
Tools you'll need
For a expert / pro carve like this you'll want a fine-detail pumpkin saw, spoon / scoop, pin transfer tool, and detail gouges if the pattern includes shading. Here's the kit we reach for, but 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.
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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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