Different People approach this part of it in different ways.  It depends a bit on how much detail you want to put into the pumpkin.  I try to get a lot of detail in mine.  I usually make my patterns to account for four to five shades.  Most will make them for three shades.  If you by them from a place like Pumpkin Masters, most are for two shades or colors.

    The first thing you have to do is to ensure that you have all the proper tools.  Click for the tools I use.

    The way I approach it, is to decide what I want to put on the pumpkin first.  Then I find or take a picture of that subject.  Finally I turn that picture into a pattern.  See creating patterns.  After all of this is complete, I go and pick pumpkins to accommodate the patterns.  For instance I usually want tall skinny pumpkins for portraits.  For words you probably want a short wide pumpkin.  It is also fairly important to have a flatter surface on the pumpkin to carve on.  However that is not critical.  I try to find a pumpkin with a flat surface at least 8 1/2" X 11" that way I know a standard paper size pattern will fit.  If you don't plan to incorporate them into your design, try to get them free of gouges and surface blemishes.

    You can get pumpkins anywhere from tiny little two inch wide ones to as big as a Volkswagen beetle.  Trust me I saw two that big in 2001.  A good medium size pumpkin will work just fine for most patterns.  However you can get pretty detailed with a larger one.  Chances are though, that you will have to scrape a lot of meat out of a large one to get the light through.

    Never carry a pumpkin by its stem; it may break. If it does break off you can use toothpicks as a basic patch. Care should be taken not to bruise during transport or storage, as this will shorten their life span.

    I clean up the pumpkin first.  Wash it off real good with antibacterial soap and water.  Wash your hands and tools with anti-bacterial soap before carving.  This keeps out a lot of germs that rot the pumpkin.

    Now it's time to cut out the hole you will use to scrape out the meat and waste inside the pumpkin.  You can either cut the top or the bottom.  I usually cut out the bottom.  This will allow you to put the pumpkin down over your light source and you won't see lines of light around the top.  It also allows pumpkins that don't stand up well to do so better.  If you do cut the top though, don't cut the hole perfectly round.  It's easier to line back up in the end if it is square or hexagonal.  I usually use my jigsaw to cut this, just because it is easier and quicker, but any good size knife or small saw will work.

    Next use either a spoon or a scrapper tool from a pumpkin carving kit, and scrape out all the seeds and slimy stuff inside.  I recommend getting a kit scrapper.  They are very cheap and well worth the money.

    Now you are ready to place your pattern on the pumpkin, draw the pattern, or just freehand carve it.  If you want to do anything beyond the basic jack-o-lantern, I suggest a pattern.  If you don't want to buy patterns, see my instructions on making your own patterns from pictures.  It is easier than you would think.

    I generally use a pattern that I have created.  I simply tap the pattern on to the pumpkin.  If the pumpkin is too round, you can place strategic cuts in the paper to make it easier to tape down.  Pumpkin Master patterns have you put several small dots onto the pumpkin with a tool designed just for that.  You can trace the pattern on the pumpkin using either the poker or a pen.  Use the poker and poke holes around all the lines about 1/8 inch apart. Or you can press really hard with the pen to trace the lines. You may also try carbon paper under the pattern when tracing with a pen, but this can get a little messy. Then you peel off the pattern and basically do a dot-to-dot to complete the pattern.

    I do this differently.  I simply trace the whole thing with an X-acto knife.  This does require some planning though.  You have to start with the smaller areas in the middle and work your way out.  Otherwise you will cut out the pattern and have to be constantly trying to re-align and tape the pattern down.  If you are doing a large pattern, you may want to have a few extra blades.  The paper can dull those blades pretty quick.  You will destroy the pattern doing this, therefore I always make two copies.  This allows me to look at one and make sure I am carving it out correctly later one.  Trust me, if you are doing a portrait pumpkin, you will need the reference later.

    That's it.  Now just proudly display your beautiful new pumpkin and amaze your neighbors.  However, you should take steps to preserve the pumpkin at this point too.  See tips on preserving your pumpkin.