The corn in our garden is starting to grow, so, one morning, I woke up irrationally determined that we needed a scarecrow. True, I’ve never actually seen a bird moving anywhere near this garden, but I firmly believe it could happen. Someday. Because these are the kinds of “ohmygodwhatifonedaythatthinghappened” things that I think about. Regularly.
I believe you can buy scarecrows, (right?) but that seemed silly, and wasteful, and really how hard could it be to make a straw man? I consulted Professor Google and found that yes, actually, it can be quite difficult. In fact, a variety of people have found a variety of ways to make it difficult…and then made videos of themselves showing you all the difficulty while explaining how easy it is.
So. Even though I don’t have an ounce of crafyskill (and also because I don’t have this ounce), I believed I could make one using items around the house, all the while not using any tools, glitter, or other technical things. Here’s what I did.
Step one. Find the stuff.
Here’s what I found and used:
1. A small bag that was holding other things. I found some burlap bags (pretty) and dumped out the other things. Then I took out the stitches (with scissors) to make the bags larger. I just made that sound waaay more difficult than it actually was. I’m the opposite of the scarecrow video people. Just find something (an old pillow case, T-shirt, shopping bag, whatever) that you can imagine stuffing to make look like a head. It’s not that hard.
2. Two old rake/shovel handles.
3. Old buttons + thread and a needle. Or hot glue. That’s between you and God.
4. Two T-shirts and a pair of jeans that were going to Goodwill (sorry, Goodwill)
5. An old hat.
6. Straw, hay, or other filler. I used hay that I “borrowed” from my dad.
7. Rope.
8. Safety pins.
That’s it.
Things you will not need:
N/A: Tools.
N/A: Tool accessories, like nails and screws and stuff.
N/A: Hot glue.
N/A: Electronics, instructions, or cords of any kind.
Step Two. Make the scarecrow.
First, I made the face. I took a burlap bag and sewed two buttons for eyes and a button for the nose. I don’t know how to sew. But you don’t have to know anything to sew a button. If you don’t believe me, Google it. I drew the smile on the face instead of making it with buttons because I got tired of “sewing.”
Then I tied two sticks together to look like a cross.
Yeah, I’m no Boy Scout, but the knots worked fine. Deal with it, Boy Scouts.
Then I put the clothes on the cross and stuffed it with hay.
You can shape your Scarecrow man any way you’d like. You know what I’m talking about.
Ours looked muscular at first, but now it has a giant beer belly, because yes, time and gravity take their toll on everything. Deal with it, Scarecrow.
And speaking of gravity….
There was a bit of a flaw in my engineering, so James, who actually has brain skills, cut a notch (with a knife) at the top of the pole and used mad rope knotting (any knots will work here) to reinforce the man’s neck and head to his pants. Insert joke here. 
It was perfect and necessary. And hooray for engineers! They always have to fix things.
And while this Scarecrow will not fix my technical difficulties, it will spend its days guarding against imaginary birds. Just in case.
I feel safer already.
Hey, that’s MY t-shirt!
OMG, what beautiful corn! And are those pumpkins growing below? Or squash? Lovely… and, of course, the scarecrow, too.
Brilliant! I love it!
(That t-shirt is popular in our home as well.)
That is so cool. Just start worrying if it start singing and dancing and calling you dorothy.
I thought for sure that she was mocking me somehow when she insisted on using my shirt and jeans like that. I’m still not sure she isn’t.
“Ours looked muscular at first, but now it has a giant beer belly, because yes, time and gravity take their toll on everything.” Sounds just like your husband.
With outstretched arms, he’s (guess no name yet) saying “Bwala, my garden.” Love the hat.
Hallöle, stimmt es dass alte Fenster weniger Energie verlieren je älter sie sind? Also wenn ich zb. morgen neue Kunsustofffenster erwerbe, diese dann nach 7 Jahren nicht mehr so effizient sind?
Thank you! I never thought I was going to find an easy way to put a scarecrow together. Not everyone wants to make every project a full out procedure. Its nice to know we don’t need to have the skill to have the goods.
LMAO, LOVE this! You’re sooo right – everyone wants to make it difficult, but tell you its “soooo easy!” I’ve been searching online for “How to Make Scarecrows” and every one of them is ridiculous. Then I find yours and get a good laugh – thanks! This will be my first scarecrow (oooh, I sooo understand the “ohmygodwhatifonedaythatthinghappened” concept, I’m very guilty of it myself – thus the hunt for scarecrow making). I had already collected her clothes (mine will be a girl), but wasn’t sure where to progress from there. THANK YOU for the instructions and the humor! You made my day!
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this for us. You made it seem so simple. I think I can do it!
i am SO SO SO glad I found this!!
Not only is it esy and practical, you are Hysterical!!
You ave a great sense of humor,, you made my day.
I will let yu know how it goes!!!
LOl,, cant stop giggling….
Thanks for the good ideas. Things eaten in my garden by blackbirds thus far (in a week): cantaloupe, tomatoes, butternut squash, sugar pumpkin (my saddest friend gone…) Operation scarecrow beginning today!
OMG I loved this. Just yesterday I looked at my garden, similar looking to yours, and thought, hm, we may need a scarecrow now since our garden is looking kinda “real.” Then this morning a bunch of birds were attacking my corn so yup, we need a scarecrow! Your ‘s was the first one I looked at! No need to continue my search! Thanks!
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i loved your instructions – thanks for the humour! my kids and i decided on a whim to make a scarecrow (or as they intend 5 to represent the entire family) today. now, i’ll be honest, i suggested the idea as a way to eliminate tons of work clearing their leaf piles but hey, whatever works right? anyway, i gathered the clothes to make 1 and realized i didn’t know how. i did a quick google search and yielded much the same results as your search did. the only difference was your directions are now available and the promise of no skill and money really hit home for me. we haven’t made him yet, we decided on a new whim of going for a fall hike at our favorite state park, but we are making 1 tomorrow and if the kids win – 1 each day this week until our scarecrow family is complete. thanks so much, really looking forward to the project.
I?m now not certain the place you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend a while finding out much more or understanding more. Thank you for magnificent information I used to be in search of this information for my mission.
You changed it back to being something easy & fun, thanks!
Just lovely! I have a ton of packing peanuts that I saved for ….hmmm, what DID I save it for? Well now I know……a Scarecrow! And I’ve surely outgrown plenty of clothes …… and I know I have no skills! I am inspired!!
He turned out adorable. Your advice (awesome) so I’m giving it a try, cause. Like you think my coenzyme needs one of these and I just planted corn. Only I don’t have access to hay?
Thanks! this was perfect! My kids want to make a scarecrow today and started out in the yard without any materials. I needed to show them that I really do know what I’m talking about when I say you have to gather the stuff before you start. Thanks! I’ll link back to you when I blog about it!
Thanks I love your easy instructions as i’m no whizz with a drill or anything like that. Yours is definately the easiest way i’ve come across so i will be following your ideas. I can sew and do the rest (haha ) not that well though. I’m doing a stall to raise awareness for mental health issues and wanted to attract people to my stall. Also its a big arts festival sio i thought it would go down well. Thanks again and I cnnot wait to get started tommorow .
pippa
this is just what i was looking for. I wanted a project to do with my grand kids and this fits the bill perfectly. We already hunted around the house and found just about everything we needed. We have to make three scarecrows and can’t wait to get started. thanks so much
Thanks for the encouragement! I want to build a Mr. and a Mrs. this weekend. Only mine are going to be “Scaredeers” amd propped up against the fence they jump. These deer don’t appear to be afraid of humans.
wow, you really made it easy and adorable…. i love the t shirt and hat…. sewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww CUTEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeee
Thanks for the info, I just started a project for our church and this will help a lot.
I was looking for just such info. WE were thinking way to hard about it. Thanks again
Awesome! I’m going to make a Slenderman scarecrow and put it in my neighbors yard at night.
Oh I can’t wait to begin my scarecrow, I didnt want to have to ask for Tons of help from my hubs! I think my zebra shirt scarecrow for my front porch will be easy. Thanks for not even making my search hard!
Awesome, easy idea! My kids want a scare croe in our fall hay bail seen. We r going to use little girl size 3t clothes. Hope she is cute!
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Soo Cute!!! Your instruction was documented very well! I am creating 3 for a contest and wanted to see what was out there! Very cute!
Where the hell do I buy hay? Love that shirt. Made me laugh so hard I woke up my husband.
I am the coordinator of the Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow Festival and was trawling how to explain to people how to make a scarecrow (something I thought people were instinctively able to do in various imaginative ways)and your site is simply marvellous! You have a way with words and life attitude. Ha ha I think I’ve got my humour back.
this just made me laugh out loud!! my 3 year old is desperate to make one thanks to you i will be attempting it!!!
Thank you, these instructions made me smile, as well as convinced me that I will be able to build a scare crow without having to borrow any of my husbands power tools… Which somehow always turns into husband stealing my project and being one of those other scare crow makers that make things look way more difficult than they need to be!
I love your sense of humour. Oh yes, and well done on the scarecrow.