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This free Scarecrow pumpkin stencil is a printable PDF pattern you can print at home, tape to your pumpkin, and trace. A friendly scarecrow stands arms-out in classic T-pose: a brimmed hat with a small torn-corner flap, a round face with X eyes and a stitched-line smile, a necktie, straw tufts poking from the sleeves and hem, and a central post below the body. The design uses a mix of open cuts for the background spaces and solid orange bridges that form the straw strands, clothing triangles, and facial features. When lit, the scarecrow appears as a warm silhouette with the straw tufts back-lit individually. Cut the small X-eye shapes and the stitched smile first, as these tiny marks are hardest to control once surrounding material is removed. Use it as a carving template for your Halloween jack-o'-lantern. It is rated Advanced. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Fine details and narrow supports need careful planning. Follow the cutting and shading key in this design’s PDF.
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
- Transfer all lines, paying close attention to the X-shaped eyes and the stitched smile segments.
- Carve the X eye shapes and smile stitches first while the pumpkin wall is fully rigid.
- Cut the hat shape next, removing the open area above the brim and leaving the small torn-flap detail intact.
- Work down the torso: cut the large open background areas on each side of the body while keeping the necktie triangle solid.
- Carve each straw-tuft shape at the sleeves and hem as individual thin cuts, working outward from the center of each fan.
- Finish with the lower post and ground shapes at the base of the scarecrow.
Tools you'll need
For a advanced carve like this you'll want a fine-detail pumpkin saw, spoon / scoop, pin transfer tool, and small gouge 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.
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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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