Carving Kits
The right tools are a must. You can find pumpkin carving kits in just about any store that carries Halloween items. They usually come with a scoop, a drill tool, a poker tool, and a couple mini-saws. The saw with the smaller teeth is best for fine detail work.

Pro Carving Tool
Carvers who really take their art seriously might consider picking up a Pro Pumpkin Carving Tool Set from the Shocking Shop. It includes a walnut handle with a brass chuck for changing blades of different sizes. The blades are high carbon steel. No plastic handles or cheap metal blades to break.

Sizing Up Your Pumpkin
Find a pumpkin that's roughly the dimensions of the pattern you want to use. Obviously a tall pumpkin will fit the vertical designs a little better.

Finding A Worthy Specimen
Pick a smooth pumpkin that's free of scratches, dents, gouges or rotting spots. Also make sure it has a flat bottom so it will sit upright and not roll away. Never carry the pumpkin by its stem, it may tear off and the pumpkin will land on your foot. Ouch!

Printing A Pattern
Since you're already on this site, you know where to get these. The Petrifying Patterns section currently has 213 designs to choose from. Just log in and click the "Print!" link under the design you want to use.

Resizing Patterns
When printed, the patterns just about fill a standard sheet of paper. They are specifically designed to work well at this size. Reducing the size could make detailed patterns harder to carve, but enlarging makes them easier. You can reduce or enlarge the pattern to fit your pumpkin with a photocopier or scanner. Your printer's software may also allow you to choose a percentage value before printing.

Covering The Work Area
Newspapers are a common way to cover the table before carving, but pumpkin juice can soak through the paper and make the ink run. Plastic table cloths can be found for quite cheap, or try cutting open a couple garbage bags and taping them down to the table.