Best Pumpkin Carving Patterns on the Net

After years of carving goofy, toothy, triangle-eyed pumpkins as a kid, I've carried my love of jack-o-lanterns into adulthood. These days, my love of all things spooky often inspires creepier carvings. But if the internet is any indicator of how many ways a pumpkin can be carved, the possibilities are endless. This list of sites offers tutorials, creative ideas, and printable patterns you can use to recreate styles that range from classic to outrageously hilarious.

Seed of the Zombie Pumpkins! -My favorite Tim Burton inspired patterns! Check out the Rock Gods and the Freakish Freebies Collections. For $2 you gain immediate access to 2 patterns of your choice; paying $5-$20 earns unlimited access to all 138 and entry into a random prize drawing.

Pumpkin Carving 101 -Details every step of the process: choosing your pumpkin, pumpkin carving tools, traditional carving, pattern trace carving, and lighting your jack-o-lantern.
Advice on photographing your creations, growing your own pumpkin patch, and giving your spooky sidekicks a proper burial after they've rotted past their prime.

The Pumpkin Wizard -400 Free patterns as well as a Members Only section.

The Pumpkin Lady -Browse the free patterns section for some great classic pumpkin faces.

Carving Simulator -Not sure how your idea for a carving will turn out? Test it on this free simulator. Hand draw what you'd like to cut out with your mouse. When you're finished, press Done to illuminate your pumpkin for a preview of your carving.

Virtual Jack-O-Lantern -Want to share your spooky spirit with distant friends and family? This simulator allows you to send email greetings to your loved ones.

Extreme Pumpkins -Jack-o-lanterns like you've never seen them before.

Comments

[Kelly MAhoney]

Thanks for all the tips! I feel like I've been carving the same pumpkin design for years now.

[Ryan Karpeles]

Thanks for the resources, Katherine. The possibilities really are endless with these crazy things. I especially liked the Extreme Pumpkins link :-)

[Rogers Place]

These are some great carving resources. good work