The size of your scarecrow will be determined by the size of the old clothes and other supplies you use. He can be made with doll clothes and planted in a flowerpot, used as a door decoration using toddler clothes or he becomes a porch decoration using children's clothes and anchored in a large pot. With adult sized clothing he can guard your garden.

Materials:

Old shirt

Old pants

Old hat or cap

Belt or rope to use as belt

Burlap sack for head

2 buttons for eyes

2 Dowel sticks or straight branches for the frame

6 lengths of jute or yarn for the ties

Stuffing material

Straw or yarn to look like straw

Needle and thread

Red paint or crayon for mouth

Instructions:

Form a cross with the 2 dowel sticks wrapping the jute in an X to hold the sticks in place. You can use glue or a nail to stabilize the sticks on the larger scarecrows.

Place the shirt on the form with the sleeves on the cross stick. The pants are pulled up with the stick in one of the legs. Stuff the shirt and pants. Stuffing material can be Fiber Fil, plastic grocery bags or old clothes. Tie each wrist and pant leg to keep the stuffing in place. Tuck straw or yarn into the opening so it is held in place by the ties. You may need a few stitches to hold them in place.

The burlap sack bottom will be placed into the hat or cap and held in place with a few stitches. Stuff the sack. Sew the buttons in place for the eyes and color the mouth. Pull the head down over the top of the frame and tie the neck closed around the stick. Add straw or yarn around the opening.

Your scarecrow is now ready to guard your potted plants, garden or greet your visitors through the fall season.