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Scarecrow Decorations.......Sept. 1999
 

 Project Materials:

• Styrofoam ball (approx. 4" diameter)
• Corn husks
• Felt (black, white, red)
• Wiggly eyes
• Straw hat (approx. 6" diameter)
• 1 Large button
• Small wood stakes (approx. 1/2" to 1" diameter, square)
• 3 pieces - 7" long
• 1 piece - 24" long
• Small nails and hammer
• Burlap
• Denim (old jeans)
• Misc. Fabric Scraps
• Needle and Thread (Sewing Machine if available)
• Sewing pins
• Glue gun
• Scissors

• Prepare your corn husks.  If the top of the husk has a long, sharp point, without much taper, cut a little bit of it off to where it starts to taper.  If the bottom of the husk is hard and stiff, cut the hard part off so that it is all flexible. Make sure that each husk is long enough to be wrapped from top to bottom of ball. Overlapping a little is good.  (Hint: If you use the corn husks when they are fresh off the cob they will be very easy to work with but they will also shrink as they dry.)
• Heat your glue gun.
• Run a line of glue from top to bottom along the styrofoam ball.
• Working with the top of the corn husk at the top of the ball, lay one of the corn husk edges onto the glue.
• Add another line of glue just under the other edge of the husk, then smooth and press it firmly in place.
• Run another line of glue on top of the corn husk edge you just pressed into place.
• Lay the next corn husk edge on the glue. (You second husk should be slightly overlapping the first)
• Again, run a line of glue under the other edge of the corn husk, smooth and press into place.
• Continue doing this until the ball is completely covered with the husk.
• Glue on a face as shown or use your imagination to create your own.

• To make the body frame, attach the first arm piece (7") to the body stick about 2 inches down from the top.
• Attach the other arm just under the first.  (You put the arms in whatever position you choose.)
• Attach the hip piece (7") to the body about 8 1/2 inches down from the top of the stick.
• (You may want to sharpen the top of the body stick with a pocket knife to make it easier to attach the head.)

You will need to copy the patterns for the pants and vest.  Click here to view patterns.

• After you have all your pieces cut out you can begin sewing.
• For the vest, turn it right sides together and stitch the sides under the arms together. (1/2" seam allowance) Turn back to right sides out.
• For the pants, turn right sides together and stitch the sides of the pants, (1/2" seam allowance) then stitch the inner legs of the pants starting at the bottom of one leg and stitching all the way around to the other bottom of the leg. (1/4" seam allowance) Turn the pants back to right sides out.
• For the shirt, fold the rectangular piece in half long ways with right sides together as shown.
• Cut along dotted lines through the back side of the shirt only.
• Stitch along the seam lines (1/2" seam allowance) turn the shirt right sides back out.

• Cut out little squares of scrap fabric for patches and stitch them in place wherever you desire.
• Slip shirt on one arm at a time. (If you cant get it to reach over the second arm you may cut the neck opening a little more.)
• Overlap the back opening sides together at neck edge and pin.
• For pants, put one leg over stick and pull them up just above the hip piece.  Pin or stitch the pants  top edge together so they will not fall back down off hip piece.
• Put the vest on and adjust to fit.  Overlap the front of the vest to determine where the button should go.  Simply sew a button on one side and make a small cut in the opposite side for the button hole.
• Cut a small bunch of raffia and put it up the sleeve. (Make sure you have at least 2 inches of length inside the sleeve and sticking outside the sleeve)
• Using a strong piece of the raffia, tie the end of the sleeve tightly shut, holding the raffia in.
•  Carefully push head onto stick top.
• Using clumps of raffia for hair, glue them onto the head.
• Decorate the hat
• Apply some glue to the inside of the hat rim front and back.and firmly place onto the head.
• Evenly space about four pins through the hat and into the head for extra strength.