How to Make a Pretty Fretwork Pumpkin

Directions

1. Spread out a few sheets of newspaper on your work surface. Take a sharp knife or a specialized pumpkin saw and slice a circular opening at the base of the gourd. Scoop out the insides with a big spoon until the cavity is clean. Pro tip: Don't toss those seeds; you can roast them afterward for a nutritious treat.
2. Stick a strip of painter's tape horizontally across the middle of the pumpkin. Then, place a second strip about two inches higher up.
3. Swap in a wide drill bit and bore holes into the pumpkin just beneath the upper tape line. Create a full circle of these wide holes just above the lower tape line. Peel off the tape and drill a final circle of wide holes directly over the first circle you made.
4. Switch to a tiny drill bit. Make smaller holes in the spaces between and above the wide ones, working your way around the entire pumpkin. Finish by drilling a bottom row of tiny holes underneath the lowest wide circle. Ensure these tiny holes sit exactly between and above or below the larger ones.
5. Wipe away any leftover pulp and skin from the drilled openings using paper towels and cotton swabs. Finally, set the finished pumpkin over a votive candle or an LED light.