Gadgets: Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Carving Kit
I've always felt limited in my ability to carve jack-o'-lanterns due to a narrow range of tools. Let's face it—a thumbtack and steak knife can only yield so much detail, and cheap plastic tools always seem to break with the first incision. Though I questioned whether it would be worth it to invest in a more serious set, I put my money on a kit from Martha Stewart ($34.99 at Macy's in-store; unavailable online), who, unsurprisingly, is able to create beauties like these lace-patterned gourds featured on her site last year.
Smitten by these non-traditional, ultra-delicate styles, my intrepid carving companion and I set out to accomplish some super-technical pumpkins with the aid of Martha's kit. We eagerly unwrapped more than a half-dozen wood-handled tools, picked our patterns, and pinned them down to be traced through, only to find that we each preferred using our ordinary thumbtacks to Martha's fancy pin pen. Not a good sign.
As the carving went on, we developed a love-hate relationship with the kit. Without the zester, we couldn't have created the signature shadows around Che's silhouette, but the mini-saws were flimsy and bent every which way, making unreliable cuts that were sometimes impossible to control. Though the shape cutters were awkwardly sized and impractical for our designs, we thought it was clever that the wooden poker fit through each to push out any stuffed up pumpkin bits.
A V-shaped tool seemed like a smart and useful addition for delicate detail, but this one was rather dull and required too much force to use properly, thereby risking wild and accidental damage. For my serious lettering job, I switched it out for the previously-rejected pin pen, whose slightly fat disposition made it possible—though incredibly tedious—to achieve accurate typographical results. Somehow, we were able to channel Martha's artistic prowess and carve some seriously cool pumpkins, but I wasn't thanking the tools for it.
As I looked back at the pumpkins I'd lusted for, I realized that even Martha doesn't recommend her own tools. She recommends those that her set reminded me of—ones that artists would actually use for carving more common mediums like wood or linoleum—and I would too. After all, you can re-use those and make stamps out of soap bars when pumpkins aren't in season, or find other crafty uses for them year-round.
Related
Enter the Serious Eats Pumpkin Carving Contest
How to Carve a Pumpkin
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17 Comments:
I used my cheapo wood-carving tools I got as a kid for my pumpkin. they are not great (in fact one blade came off as I was working on the pumpkin), but ok for pumpkins.
I don't know about now but at least for my generation and older, being able to sharpen pencils with a small knife and being able to carve wood were required in public schools.
I can't even guess how many kids had serious injuries with those knives and sharp objects in elementary schools in Japan. totally not safe. lol
hmw0029 at 10:47AM on 10/29/09
Great story! Interesting that she recommends a real wood-carving kit, but then markets a flimsy version through Macy's. I've found that although many of the Martha Stewart products sold at Macy's have a beautiful vintage aesthetic, they're really lacking in quality. For me, the products are a reminder to buy vintage instead...
yayfood at 11:26AM on 10/29/09
Not to be down on Martha! I heart the lady!
yayfood at 11:28AM on 10/29/09
CHE!? I swear - when will people do some research on this guy and stop idolizing him on t-shirts and the like. He was a Communist and a murderer and his likeness does not belong on this website.
LAQ1013 at 11:36AM on 10/29/09
i had luck using a hand cranked drill set on my jack-o-lantern.
my only problem was the mold later on.
love the SE pumpkin!
gastronomeg at 11:45AM on 10/29/09
I have a cheap set of wood carving tools and come clay carving ribbon tools for pumpking carving that work quite well.
dhorst at 12:18PM on 10/29/09
@LAQ 1013 Amen to that. When I first saw this pic it was a !?WTF!? moment. It's funny how people will go all PC on the most trivial things, but this guy just seems to get a free pass over and over again. You all who love to cite your research maybe do a little research on this cat. I'll get off the soapbox now, but damn!
finsbigfan at 1:03PM on 10/29/09
Che is clearly a polarizing figure. It would be ignorant to dismiss the fact that he commissioned public executions in an attempt to instill fear into the general Cuban population.
Che's actions at times were horrendous, however, his dedication in acting for his beliefs were unmatched in the 20th century. His concept of true equality is something that we should all strive for, clearly not with public executions, nor with discussions and words, but with actions. The socioeconomic gap in America is larger than it's ever been, and while I would never suggest that Cuba is in a better place, acting benevolently for those who don't have a voice in society is something we can all learn from "El Che."
On an artistic note: The famous image of "Che," titled "Guerrillero Heroico" was named repeatedly as one of the most famous pictures in the world. This image is recognized by millions of people - and symbolizes Che Guevara not as the butcher, but as a man taking on the wealthy elite for the common man.
@LAQ 1013 and @finsbigfan - you're both right. Che was a murdering tyrant. However, his spirit of social equality is something that should be both celebrated and emulated in our actions.
Shasher at 1:43PM on 10/29/09
@Shasher Funny how Che preached equality for all, but laid his head on the pillows of only the best homes in Havana after they were taken away from the owners. I get my info from those who where THERE and SAW what he was really all about. Yeah, Batista was bad, but what replaced it was far, far worse. I find nothing artistic in a murderer. His concept of "true equality" is called COMMUNISM. Let's not paint a pretty picture of it, because there is nothing pretty about it.
finsbigfan at 2:24PM on 10/29/09
@LAQ 1013 and @finsbig fan -- frankly, we carved Che because his famous silhouette lends itself so well to the medium and gave us a high level of technical difficulty to test Martha's tools. And there's gotta be some spook factor to any good jack-o-lantern, right?
@yayfood - I completely agree. I absolutely love Martha, but her products can be disappointing! I wonder who is to blame...
Nikki Goldstein at 2:24PM on 10/29/09
I've been using a linoleum/wood carving kit (from X-acto) for years. They're sharp, true and easy to use. I'd recommend buying extra handles so everyone can share the tips. I think I paid about $25 for it.
A heavy duty rice paddle (the plastic ones) is great for scooping out the innards, though only for large pumpkins. For smaller pumpkins those little plastic scoopers from the grocery store are adequate.
Cybele at 2:35PM on 10/29/09
@Nikki Goldstein Couldn't think of a better jack-o-lantern I'd like to stick a M80 into. Right?
finsbigfan at 3:01PM on 10/29/09
Let's get real here, Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Carving Kit is three interns.
kevster at 4:59PM on 10/29/09
Maybe the fact that they are flimsy is the reason Martha never got out of jail earlier--they look like something someone might bake into a cake for the big jailbreak!!
PoorOldMama at 7:31PM on 10/29/09
Nice try. Carving Martha's face would have given you just as much challenge as Che's murderous mug. (Not that she's really one to be idolized either, but at least she wasn't a Communist.)
There are plenty of other people who represent equality - heck, you could've carved Martin Luther King Jr.! Now THAT would've been cool.
LAQ1013 at 4:45PM on 10/30/09
For anything who wants the truth about Che:
http://newzeal.blogspot.com/2009/01/truth-about-che.html
LAQ1013 at 4:51PM on 10/30/09
Worst. SEThread. Ever.
chanterelle at 9:01PM on 10/31/09