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View all stencils →About this stencil
Download the Soccer Player pumpkin stencil as a free printable PDF, then tape the pattern to your pumpkin and trace the lines. A chibi-style bearded soccer player in a striped jersey stands with a ball tucked under one arm and his other hand on his hip in this expert sports pumpkin stencil, with a detailed face, layered hair, jersey stripes, and individual fingers all rendered in fine linework. When lit, the figure glows in silhouette with the face and jersey detail visible as pumpkin-skin relief. Start with the most detailed facial features, particularly the brow, ear, and beard cuts, before working downward through the jersey stripes and ball pentagon pattern. It works as a carving template for a Halloween jack-o'-lantern or a fall porch display. 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
- Use a large pumpkin with a flat carving face; the tall figure needs vertical room and the face detail needs thick wall support.
- Transfer all lines with a fine pin tool, paying close attention to the brow, ear canal, beard outline, and jersey stripe boundaries.
- Begin at the top: cut the hair spikes, then the facial feature cutouts (eye, brow relief, cheek, ear).
- Move to the neck and jersey, cutting the vertical stripe gaps and collar opening.
- Carve the ball pentagon cutouts and the individual finger cuts on the holding hand next.
- Finish by opening the boot and leg cutouts at the base; these large areas go last to keep the pumpkin wall firm during all detail work above.
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.
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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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AdvancedSoccer Ball Pumpkin Stencil
A soccer ball rendered as a flat stencil pattern takes up the full face of this pumpkin carving design, with a central pentagon surrounded by curved hexagonal panels that radiate outward to the edges. The pentagon and several panel sections are cut through, while the curved connecting lines between panels remain as solid orange bridges, recreating the look of a classic black-and-white ball when lit. Carve the central pentagon first, then cut each surrounding hexagonal section in a clockwise order to keep even tension on the skin bridges.
Expert / ProPond Hockey Night Pumpkin Stencil
Two crossed hockey sticks with taped blades dominate a full outdoor rink scene, complete with a puck at center ice, board fencing, evergreen trees, and distant peaks behind. It is carved entirely by shading: skin is shaved to different depths so the sticks, boards, and treeline glow in layered tones with no pierced holes. Map out three depth levels before you start and shave the brightest areas thinnest, checking often with a light inside.
IntermediateCorner Kick Pumpkin Stencil
A full soccer ball fills the pumpkin's face, with a dark pentagon at its center surrounded by glowing hexagonal panels and a bright outer ring. The panels are shaved down to the flesh rather than pierced, so the seam lines and center pentagon stay as raised skin while the shaved sections glow softly. For this medium shading design, score every seam line first, then peel each panel with a flat gouge, keeping depth even so all the panels light up uniformly.
IntermediateGolden Goal Pumpkin Stencil
A full soccer ball built from a honeycomb of hexagons and pentagons filling a big circle on the pumpkin face. Nothing is pierced; you shave the skin off the light panels and leave the dark pentagons and seam lines in raw rind, so the ball reads clearly by day and glows softly by night. Shave each panel to the same shallow depth for an even, ball-like sheen.
IntermediateHat Trick Pumpkin Stencil
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.
AdvancedStar Vault Pumpkin Stencil
A gymnast soars in a full split leap, one arm reaching skyward toward a trail of stars and a curved comet streak behind her. The whole figure is a shaded carve on a continuous wall, shaving the skin so the silhouette glows without any pierced holes, which preserves the slender arms and pointed toes. Shave the thin limbs in light passes with a small loop tool, since going too deep on those narrow lines risks breaking through.