Things You'll Need
3-ft. pole
Long sleeve shirt
Gloves
1 pair of jeans
1 pair of socks or boots
Straw
Permanent marker
Twine
Safety pins
Straw hat
Pillowcase
Are you having trouble with birds pecking away at your garden? Or maybe you just want a good Fall decoration for your porch or yard? Whatever the reason, a scarecrow is a quick and easy project. Scarecrows have been used by farmers for ages, so by making one you'll be joining a long lineage of scarecrow makers. Often, scarecrows are made to stand up in order to appear more daunting to birds, but a sitting doll could be an effective scare tactic for a small garden. Sitting scarecrows are also commonly used as decorations.
Step 1
Gather your materials in a place where you can get a little messy. Stuff the jeans loosely with hay or another type of stuffing material such as crumpled newspapers. Keep the stuffing loose enough that the legs can bend. Stuff the socks and then tie them to the pants with twine or attach with safety pins. If you're using old boots instead of socks, wait until the rest of the scarecrow is complete then stick the ends of the jeans into the boots when you place it into position.
Video of the Day
Step 2
Stuff the shirt and then attach it to the jeans with twine or safety pins. Stuff the gloves and tie or safety pin them to the ends of the sleeves. Stick the 3-ft. pole down the back of the shirt. Leave 1 ft. of the pole sticking out of the top. Set the body on a chair. Tie it to the chair if it doesn't sit up by itself, or add more stuffing.
Step 3
Stuff the pillowcase to make the head. You can also use a stuffed burlap sack or a pumpkin for the head. Stick the head onto the exposed pole. Cinch the bottom of the head to the pole with twine or safety pins. Draw a face on the head with a permanent marker, or sew on buttons or other materials to create the eyes, nose and mouth.
Step 4
Secure the straw hat to the scarecrow's head. Move the sitting scarecrow and the chair to your desired location. Put it in a visible place right next to your garden if you're using it to scare away birds. If it's just for decoration, then put it wherever you'd like.
Video of the Day