How to Make a Scarecrow

Put the shirt you’re using onto the frame, with the ends of the horizontal stake going through the sleeves like arms. Use a piece of twine to tie the shirt to the vertical part of the frame at its waistline. Use additional pieces of twine to tie both of the sleeves shut around the horizontal stake. If you’re adding gloves to your scarecrow, secure them to the ends of the horizontal stake with twine.

Stuff the shirt with straw or dried grass until you’ve filled out your scarecrow's chest. Be sure to stuff it enough to give it a solid shape.

Use twine to tie off the bottom of each pant leg so the legs can be stuffed.

Stuff the pants with straw or grass until they are firm.

Using some twine, create a pair of suspenders to attach the stuffed pants to the scarecrow frame. If your pants have belt loops, thread some twine all the way around the waistline of the pants and tie it off. Cut equal lengths of twine that you'll secure to the belt and loop over the “shoulders” of the scarecrow. Then secure the twine to the belt at the back. If the pants you’re using don’t have belt loops, you can staple the twine to the pants.

Stuff the legs of your scarecrow into a pair of old shoes or boots. Drill a hole into the bottom of old boots for drainage so they won’t fill with water when it rains.

Stuff your pillowcase firmly with straw or grass until you have the shape and size you desire for a scarecrow head.

Position the stuffed pillowcase on the 12 inches of stake or wood extending above the horizontal stake. The opening of the pillowcase should face the ground. Secure the head to the stake by tying some twine under the stuffing in the scarecrow’s neck area.

You can use a permanent marker to draw a simple face on your scarecrow or get creative with other materials you have on hand. Create a scary scarecrow with a menacing look or something more friendly. If you like to give it a hat, secure it to the head with twine or staples so it doesn’t blow away.

Make your decorative scarecrow look like an integral part of your garden by surrounding it with flowers or other decorative items. In the fall, pair your scarecrow with seasonal mums and cornstalks. Place a functional scarecrow near your most vulnerable vegetables to keep birds at bay.