How to Make a Fall Scarecrow

Whether frightening, funny or friendly, a fall scarecrow adds a homey touch to any yard. Not only is this fall scarecrow easy to make, but it is inexpensive and a fun project to do with children.

Gather Scarecrow Materials

Here is a list of materials you will need to make your fall scarecrow:

Men's flannel shirt
Pair of adult-sized old blue jeans
Hat
Piece of burlap or a burlap bag
Five or six feet long two by four
Three feet long two by four
Rope
Plastic grocery bags
Fall leaves or hay
One or two nails

Gather Tools

You will need the following tools to make your scarecrow:

Hammer
Staple gun
Needle and thread
Permanent marker

Step One: Building the Frame

Nail the three foot long two by four to the longer piece in a cross pattern. Be sure to use a thick enough nail to go almost entirely through both pieces of wood. You don't want the nail to stick out of the back, but you want it to anchor the pieces together securely. It's okay if the small piece pivots a little, but if you like, you can use more than one nail to keep it from pivoting.

Step Two: Dressing Your Scarecrow

Pull the blue jeans onto the upright piece of wood by feeding the wood through one leg of the pants. Use the staple gun to fasten the jeans to the back of the wood at about waist height.

Put the shirt on the cross piece of wood by covering each side with a sleeve. The sleeves should drape off the ends of the wood. Button the shirt.

Tie pieces of rope around the ankles of the pants and around the wrists of the shirt. Tie a larger piece around the waist of the shirt.

Use the burlap to make a head. Sew a small bag on three sides that is approximately 12 inches wide by 18 inches long. The opening should be on one of the shorter sides, which will be the bottom. Stuff the head with a plastic grocery bag filled with fall leaves or hay. Once the head is stuffed, you can use the marker to draw a face on the scarecrow.

Place the opening of the head over the piece of wood that is sticking up out of the shirt. Tie a piece of rope around the neck to secure the head. You may have to use the staple gun to staple the head to the wood in the back for extra security.

Step Three: Stuffing the Scarecrow