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How to Make A Scarecrow
Our Make A Scarecrow Event is coming up this weekend so we wanted to teach you how to make a scarecrow that’ll not only protect your garden from pesky pests but also become the talk of the neighborhood all while donating to a great cause for the Children’s Hospital for the King’s Daughters (CHKD). Grab your creative juices and let’s get started!
Step 1: Find Your Scarecrow Frame
When making your scarecrow, it’s important to start with a strong base. All of our scarecrows are made with a t-shaped, wooden stake and a gallon-sized milk jug for a head. That’s right, step one is a breeze. Your scarecrow frame is ready to go! All you need to do is find it, and you’re off to a great start.
Step 2: Pants and Suspenders
Now, here’s where the fun begins. Grab a pair of old pants and slide them up the frame, making it look like your scarecrow is casually hanging out. To make sure they stay up, fashion some suspenders out of twine. It’s like dressing up your scarecrow in style! Tie one end to a belt loop, pull it over to the opposite back belt loop, and tie it off. Repeat for the other side. Don’t forget to tie off the pant legs with some twine and stuff them with straw.
Step 3: The Stylish Shirt
Select a shirt and slide the frame through the sleeves and tie off the sleeves and the bottom of the shirt with twine. Give it a bit of that scarecrow charm by stuffing the shirt with straw. We’re making scarecrow couture here, after all!
Step 4: The Face and Burlap
It’s time to give your scarecrow some personality! Cover the milk jug head with burlap and tie it off at the bottom with twine to hold it securely in place. This is where your artistic talents come into play. Get creative in designing the face! Maybe your scarecrow will be smiling, winking, or giving a sly grin. And here’s the best part – there are accessories available to help you in this quest. Think hats, scarves, or even a quirky mustache made of felt.
Step 5: Finishing Touches
Congratulations, your basic scarecrow is ready to shine! But why stop there when you can add some fantastic finishing touches? Use straw to stuff any gaps, creating that perfect, plump appearance. Got some old fabric lying around? Glue it on to make some patches, giving your scarecrow a well-loved and worn look. If you have any spare clothing items like hats, gloves, scarves, or shoes, don’t hesitate to add them. It’s all about enhancing the character of your scarecrow.
Crafting your very own scarecrow is not only a fun and creative endeavor but also a fantastic way to add some unique personality to your outdoor space. Get your family involved, have a scarecrow-making party, and watch your garden guardian come to life. Happy crafting, and may your scarecrow bring fall vibes to your home. To learn more about what’s growing on at the garden center, check out Mike, the Garden Guru , and his webinars with new plants, products, and expert planting advice. To keep inspired and grow with us, follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Pinterest , and TikTok to dig into the joys of gardening!
How to make a simple scarecrow
Throughout history scarecrows have been used in many cultures to guard farmers’ crops. They have been fashioned to reflect various customs, cultures, belief systems, superstitions and religions. And they’ve gone by many names like hodmedods, murmets, Hay-man, Tattie bogle, bodach-rocais, kaktadua, straska and pugalo.
Today, scarecrows are more commonly used to decorate for fall than to protect the harvest. They are typically fashioned in flannel and overalls with straw hair and stuffing. And they are just called scarecrows.
Some are created to follow theme, mimic movie characters or stay true to cultural traditions. Some are creepy, while others are happy and inviting. Some are elaborate and some are plain. Some are made for use in a garden and some are just for decoration. No matter what kind of scarecrow you want to make, these tips can help you get started with simple instructions.
Making a simple scarecrow
Supplies
- Safety pins
- Wire or twine
- Burlap sack or pillowcase
- Markers, paints or needle and thread
- Yarn or straw
- Old pair of gloves
- Leaves or straw
- Wire hanger
- 6-foot wooden post
- 4-foot wooden post
- Old pair of boots
- Old Hat
- Old clothes
- Mallet
- Wire cutters or scissors
- Pliers
- Hammer
- Nails
Instructions
- Nail the 4-foot wooden post to the top of the 6-foot wooden post, forming a T for your scarecrow to be attached to for display.
- Pound your T post about a foot into the ground to support the weight of your scarecrow, leaving about 5 feet of the 6-foot post above ground.
- Lay out your old clothing, so that it is displayed the way it will look on your scarecrow. Make sure to tuck the shirt into the pants or place it inside of the overalls. Then secure clothing together using safety pins – tops pinned to bottoms, gloves pinned to shirt sleeves and so forth. After all clothing items have been secured, tie off the bottoms of the pant legs with twine.
- Stuff your scarecrow’s body with straw or leaves, so that its body is mostly full.
- Use straw or leaves to stuff a pillow case or burlap sack for your scarecrow’s head.
- Draw, paint or stich a face onto the pillow case or sack you stuffed to make a face.
- Give your scarecrow hair by gluing yard or straw to its head.
- Insert the wire hanger into the top of your scarecrow’s chest, leaving the top of the hanger protruding where its neck would be to attach its head with wire or twine.
- Secure your scarecrow to your T post, using wire or twine to attach its arms to the 4-foot post and its body to the 6-foot post you pounded into the ground.
- Place bottom of your scarecrow’s legs in old boots.
- Secure a hat to the top of your scarecrow’s head.
