How to Make an Autumn Scarecrow

Decorating your lawn or front porch for any season is a wonderful way to boost the curb appeal of your home. Autumn is especially suited for decorating, as there are many natural materials available for free or cheap. Making an autumn scarecrow can be the centerpiece that works all the way through fall, including Halloween and Thanksgiving, until you are ready to put up the Christmas decorations.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pumpkin
• Men’s bib overalls
• Large plaid shirt
• Straw hat
• Straight pins
• Safety pins
• 2 square bales of straw
• String
• Old pair of work boots
• Old pair of work gloves
• Wooden stake
• Work gloves for you

1. Cut the string on one straw bale and begin stuffing the legs of the overalls. Fill each leg with as much straw as possible. Tie string around the bottom of the legs, leaving a bit of straw on the outside of the leg hole.

2. Position the shirt as if it were being worn with the overalls, tucking the shirt-tail into the waist of the overalls. Button the bottom few buttons and safety pin the shirt to the seat and waist of the overalls. Begin stuffing the shirt and midsection of the bib overalls. Tie string around the wristbands of the shirt and stuff the arms.

3. Finish buttoning the shirt and stuff the neck and chest area with straw. Tie string around the collar when the upper torso is filled out. Pull up the bib and attach the straps.

4. Cut the top from a round pumpkin and clean out the inside by removing all the seeds. Cut a face into the pumpkin just as you would for a jack o’lantern. Attach a straw hat to the top of the pumpkin by pushing straight pins through the hat and into the pumpkin.

5. Take a wooden stake or dowel and push it through the bottom of the pumpkin several inches. Push the other end of the stake or dowel into the straw neck.

6. Slide the bottom of each leg into an old work boot. Use string to secure the boot to the scarecrow if desired. Use an old pair of work gloves for hands, again using string to hold the gloves at the cuffs of the shirt.

7. Pose the scarecrow sitting atop an extra straw bale and secure him with string. Add pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks and other autumn decorations to complete the look.

Tips & Warnings

• If the scarecrow is expected to be on display for more than a few weeks, draw the face on the pumpkin with a permanent marker.
• You can also change the expression on the scarecrows face by carving or drawing on both the front and back side of the pumpkin. He can have a friendly face for everyday and a fierce, scary face for Halloween.
• Always wear work gloves when working with straw bales as straw can cause irritation to the skin.

[apalmer]

on 11/24/2009 Great article on how to make a scarecrow. When I was young my mother always had us make our own scarecrows for Autumn. Thanks for sharing.