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Making a scarecrow wasn’t something I’d ever thought to do, until a neighbor invited us to a scarecrow-making party one sunny autumn morning.
What followed was one of the most unexpectedly fun family activities we’ve ever tried. The kids helped stuff straw into old trouser legs, my husband engineered an impressively solid frame, and there were Princess Leia impressions with a pair of tights that I will never quite forget. Our scarecrow had pride of place on the porch for several years.
The best part? It’s genuinely easy, costs very little, and works for all ages. Toddlers can help with the stuffing, older kids can design the face, and adults get to feel quietly smug about their carpentry skills. Below is our full step-by-step guide, with everything you need to make your own from scratch.
How to Make a Scarecrow
You will need:
- A wooden frame – roughly 1″ by 1/2″ wood screwed/nailed together to make a cross. For a child-sized scarecrow, a frame about 3-4 feet tall works great. You will need screws/nails and a hammer or screwdriver.
- Straw (or other filling material, e.g. shredded paper or plastic bags, newspaper). We can buy straw bales in our local Home Depot (and craft stores like Michaels at this time of year). A pet store or garden center is also an option.
- Twine or wool.
- An old pair of trousers/pants, a jumper/shirt, a pair of tights/pantyhose, a hat.
- Felt and wool (for the face and hair)
- Fabric glue
- Scissors
Step 1: Build the Frame
We were lucky, the frames had already been assembled! To build your own take two pieces of 1″x0.5″ wood, one 3-4 feet long, one 1-2 feet long. Lay them out with the shorter piece crossing the longer near one end, leaving enough length to ‘stick’ the head on to. Nail/screw the two pieces of wood together securely. Alternatively, you can wind twine around the cross piece until secure.
Step 2: Fill the Legs and Body
Start by pulling straw through the legs and arms of your trousers and shirt, and then the body of your shirt. My husband found that pulling (more than you think will fit) was better than pushing straw in, and gave a more solid finish.
If your filling material is more flexible than straw, you may need to tie off the bottom of your legs/sleeves/shirt to contain the stuffing.
Step 3: Make the Head
Make sure you have some fun with the tights before you fill the crotch with straw and tie off the legs to make the head… Princes Leia impersonations always go down well!
Once you have the head filled and attached to the body, you’re ready to fully assemble the scarecrow.
Step 4: Assemble the Scarecrow
My husband made a ‘neck’ sticking out from the body, and once the head was filled he created a ‘slot’ inside the head. This allowed him to drop the head onto the neck, creating a solid connection. Others tied/sewed the heads onto the bodies.
A variety of techniques were used to connect the body to the legs! ‘Sewing’ the shirt to the trousers was a popular one, before tying the whole thing to the frame.
As my husband had constructed such a solid body (star that he is), he started by attaching the torso to the frame, tying it on with wool. He then put one leg of the trousers through the frame, before using twine to create braces that also went through the trousers belt loops, to keep the whole thing together.
Step 5: Add the Face and Finishing Touches
Next it was time for the face. My husband and the 7yo had fun cutting eyes, a mouth and buck teeth from felt and gluing them to the head. A straw to suck on finished off the look on ours!
Several scarecrows ended up with fab hair, a couple looked rather tipsy, but they all looked very happy (and not particularly scary!).
While my husband (with occasional help from the 4 and 7yo!) was making our wonderful scarecrow, which now has pride of place on our porch, the kids had a great time playing on our neighbors climbing frame and swings and various Little Tikes cars and trikes. There were of course refreshments, apple juice and donuts, and these were enjoyed by all :)
This goes down as one of our most enjoyable mornings this year. So completely unexpected and ever so slightly random! It was such good fun, and I think making a scarecrow could become an annual tradition.
If you’re looking for more autumn activities, we also love waxing and preserving autumn leaves and making autumn leaf collages.
Frequently Asked Questions
This looks like so much fun! I have always wanted to make my own scarecrow. There’s scarecrow festival in the village next to us x
It was brilliant, so glad we did it!
Oh fantastic Sara, I loved your post about the scarecrow party, so to now see you making yours is even better. Fabulous pictures too, the boys in their tights gave me a good giggle, I’m not sure which one makes the best Leia xx
The tights caused great hilarity! A good time was had by all :)
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Loving your scarecrow. We’ve tried making them before, but they’ve never looked as good as yours.
Thank you – hubby did a great job:)
Looks like you had a great day. I can’t say I’ve ever thought about making our own scarecrows but we might have to give it a go now, you’ve made it look like so much fun :)
It was fun, and the finished product has made us smile every day!
Do you know I’ve never made a scarecrow or a guy – am going to pin this. Thank you – looks great fun as well!
Oh, thank you for pinning! It was a lot of fun, and with the right stuff, easier than I would have thought :)
This looks ace! And something that all the family can have fun with, whatever the age…I might have to investigate if there are scarecrow days near us!
You really should – the kids loved it, and love that they now have a scarecrow!
How fantastic! I’ve never thought of trying this. Mind you I doubt we could get our hands on enough straw…..our little pile that we do have is waiting to be used for a Celtic roundhouse (obviously!)
I did wonder about straw, it seems to be everywhere at the moment over here, lots of people use straw bales as part of their Fall decorations… I did think a pet shop might be a good bet? And a Celtic roundhouse? I’m intrigued! Hope you blog about that :)
Loads of fun! You’ve managed to create the friendliest looking scarecrows, too! I love the photo of your kids all sitting together, 2 of them drinking – very cute x
A moment of calm! I loved how the cups were as big as their heads :)
I am totally inspired. Those scarecrows are fantastic. I’m sure yours is going to look very effective on your porch.
Thank you! Lots of fun :)
Such a wonderful post Sara – loved the last one too. Sounds like you had the best time as well. I’d love to make a scarecrow but I don’t think it would look anywhere near as good as yours :)
Oh, I’m sure it would – and anyway, the fun was in the making!
Fab project! What a fun thing to do with the kids. You’ve inspired me thats for sure!
You should give it a go – great activity!
What a morning of fun for all the family, such a wonderful community spirit and a great way to get to know your neighbours better. Thanks for linking up and sharing your fab photos with Country Kids.
Thanks Fiona! And thanks for hosting x
We need to make some scarecrows as we have very naughty wood pigeons who eat anything in their path! This is brilliant – thank you so much xx
Thank you! I’m sure your scarecrow would do a great job :) And the kids wild love it :)
How much fun does this look x totally awesome x
Thank you! Great fun :)
Reblogged this on Sassylady's craft blog. and commented:
I kind of like scarecrows.
Wow, thank you!
Your welcome.
It is a great scarecrow and looks like you had lots of fun making it! We have a scarecrow festival in our village in July – I shall be revisiting when we make ours!
It was so much fun to make, and it looks really good on our porch :) A scarecrow festival sounds fun!
I’m glad to see these scarecrows are friendly ones – somehow they normally make me think of the horror film Children of the Corn! I love the goofy expressions on the faces of the first lot.
They did all end up looking quite friendly and happy :) You’re right – scarecrows can be a little creepy!
wow what fun you have all had. i have pinned this in case we ever fancy making a scarecrow for our non existent veggie patch lol i think it is a great family activity x
Oh, you should do it – it was great fun! I smile whenever I pass our scarecrow! Thanks for pinning :)
Oh these are great instructions. I’ve never made a scarecrow with the kids.
Thank you! It was great fun :)
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Wow this looks like such a fab day. Great pics and amazing job done on the scarecrow xx #countrykids
Thank you :) It was great fun!