How to Make a Scarecrow
Autumn Harvest-Inspired Halloween and Thanksgiving Yard Decoration
Aug 23, 2008
You can make one scarecrow, or one to represent each member of your family to decorate your yard for the fall holidays.
For each adult scarecrow you will need one six foot 2" x 2" board and one three foot 2" x 2" board. You can make the scarecrows different heights by using longer or shorter boards. A six foot board will make a five foot scarecrow. Fasten the two boards in a cross-like fashion so that the shorter board is about six inches below the top of the longer board. You can nail, screw or tie them together as long as they are tight.
If you live in a climate where the ground hardens, prepare your hole now and just cover it with a stepping stone or insert a yard flag to keep the hole open until you need it.
You can use clothing you were going to discard or go to your local thrift store. You will need a heavy shirt and jeans. You will also need hay, a rope to use for a belt and to tie off the bottom of the pants and head. If you have old clothing or blankets, these make great stuffing. For the head, you'll need a 12" x 24" scrap piece of fabric.
Instructions:
- Put the arms of the shirt onto the short arms of the wooden structure. Button it all the way up.
- Lay the whole structure down face up and stuff the shirt. Button any cuffs. Insert hay so that it sticks out the cuffs. You can also add some sticking out of the button flaps.
- Insert the bottom of the long board into one leg of the jeans. Insert hay into the hems and tie off.
- Working from the waist, stuff the pants. Overlap the pants over the bottom of the shirt. Lace the rope through the belt loops and tie in from to hold the pants on. If it doesn't feel tight enough to keep the pants on, add safety pins to attach the pants to the shirt.
- One leg will be hanging free. You can leave it to hang or pin the bottom of the free leg to the calf of the other leg on the side. Make sure the knee is pointing away from the body.
- You still need a head. Fold the fabric in half and baste round three sides. This will make a 12" square. Stuff the square without filling in the corners. Gather the bottom and tie it to the top of the long board. Add hay to the neck where the head and shirt connect.
- Use a permanent marker to make a face. Add a hat if you like. You can also use pins to position the arms.
For each child scarecrow, use the same concept but make the boards four foot long and two foot long. This will give you three-foot scarecrows.
When you are ready to use them, insert the board into a hole at least one foot deep.
You can get really playful and creative in making your scarecrows. Just have fun and enjoy them.
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