Place the pattern on the pumpkin and trace the design with a felt tip pen. Cut the lid at a slight angle so the top is wider than the bottom. This will prevent the lid from falling into the pumpkin once it's carved. Clean out all the seeds and stringy pulp with a spoon and your hands. Carve eyes, nose, mouth and other features with a narrow knife.
Hobby stores sell pumpkin-carving kits with exotic designs and small saws.
For special effects, Dickerson suggests carving a white pumpkin to use as the head of a stuffed ghost. Miniature pumpkins are excellent table decorations. Triple Treat' is a versatile variety that can be carved or made into pies. The hull-less seeds also can be roasted for crunchy treats, Dickerson said.