Your first task is to pick the perfect pumpkin. Start by giving it a good thump -- a ripe, hollow-souding one will be easier to scoop out. Having a strong, well-attached stem is a sign of healthiness. A medium-sized pumpkin is easier to work with than a huge or tiny one. But be flexible about the shape -- a tall, skinny pumpkin may be just the thing for your design.

1. Never carry your pumpkin by the stem. It’s part of the visual allure, and if it snaps, it can accelerate the pumpkin’s rotting. Always carry the pumpkin from below.

2. Store your uncut pumpkin in a cool, dry place. Once pumpkins ripen, they will deteriorate fast, and heat and light speed up the process.

3. Wash the exterior of the pumpkin well before carving. Use a solution of 4 litres water and 1 teaspoon chlorine bleach. This will help prevent mold.

4. Draw your pattern on paper, or use a pumpkin-carving template, such as the 12 we provide. This is easier and cleaner than drawing right on the pumpkin, and makes revisions a snap.

5. To transfer a pattern to the pumpkin, cut it out and adhere it to the pumpkin with masking tape. Then either use pinpricks to mark the shapes and lines on the pumpkin, or use a craft or utility knife and cut through the design to score it on the surface.

6. Don’t just think of face designs. Moons, stars, cats, and witches are all fun and easy to do. Using a drill to make patterned light holes is a wonderful idea as well.

7. Consider buying a pumpkin carving kit. Often they can be found for just a few dollars. Kits usually contain small scoops and serrated saws that aren’t commonly found in the typical toolbox. They work terrifically well when doing detailed carving work.

8. When cutting out your shapes, always use a sawing motion. Go slowly and gently. A small serrated saw is best for the detail work. Never try to cut your pumpkin with a straight-edge razor, using force; you’ll damage the pumpkin, hurt the knife, and possibly cut yourself!

9. The more pumpkins in your display, the better. Four or five small pumpkins in a row have much more visual impact than one large one.

10. If scraping out a pumpkin is too much hassle for you, consider buying a hollow acrylic or craft pumpkin. These are becoming increasingly popular, thanks to their realism and their ease in carving. You carve these soft plastic pumpkins just like a real one; most are made to be about 1/4 inch thick, with inside colors that match a real pumpkin. And they last forever, meaning jack-o’-lanterns for next year!