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View all stencils →About this stencil
This free Sports Balls pumpkin stencil is a printable PDF pattern you can print at home, tape to your pumpkin, and trace. Four sports balls are stacked and overlapping in a loose cluster: a soccer ball at the top with its pentagon-patch pattern, a football on the left with stitching lines, a basketball on the right with its curved seam lines, and a baseball at the front center with a double-stitch seam. Each ball's distinctive surface markings are left as uncut pumpkin ridges, so when lit the glowing interior shines through the open areas between stitches and panel gaps. Carve the baseball's curved stitch lines last since they are the finest linework and benefit from the stability of the surrounding cuts already in place. 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 the pattern and identify each ball's open cut areas versus the solid ridge lines that stay.
- Start with the soccer ball pentagon cutouts at the top of the composition.
- Move to the football: cut the large open body panels, leaving the stitching ridge intact.
- Carve the basketball's panel sections, keeping the thin curved seam lines uncut.
- Cut the baseball's large body halves last, then carefully score the two curved stitch rows with a thin detail blade.
- Back-light with a warm LED to check that each ball's surface texture reads clearly before sealing the top.
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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