Carving pumpkins can also be messy.

Warning

To carve a pumpkin, you’ll be working with knives.

after you snag your supplies, run with this to carve a wonderfully witchy design.

Glowing pumpkin on doorstep

The Spruce / Melissa Epifano

We recommend a medium-sizedpumpkin of any varietyaround 10 to 20 pounds.

Look for one that’s firm all the way around.

A longer stem can also be helpful for taking the top on and off.

Pumpkin and pumpkin carving supplies on a table

The Spruce / Melissa Epifano

Serrated knives, narrower kitchen knives, and paring knives are useful for carving a pumpkin.

However, having one is not necessary.

Pumpkin carving supplies on top of newspaper

The Spruce / Melissa Epifano

Pulling the top off the pumpkin after cutting

The Spruce / Melissa Epifano

A wooden spork over a pumpkin

The Spruce / Melissa Epifano

Scraping out pumpkin

The Spruce / Melissa Epifano

Pulling pulp out of pumpkin

The Spruce / Melissa Epifano

Poking design onto pumpkin

The Spruce / Melissa Epifano

Hand carving eye of pumpkin

The Spruce / Melissa Epifano

Carved pumpkin by the window

The Spruce / Melissa Epifano

Carved pumpkin with a faux candle light being added to it

The Spruce / Melissa Epifano