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Scarecrow Costume: How to Make It in 25 min
- Time 25 min
- Cost mostly free
- Best for Most budget-friendly
A scarecrow is made of things people already own: a plaid shirt, patched jeans and a worn hat. The look comes from details: straw (or paper strips) sticking out where a sleeve should end, a stitched smile and a slightly stiff posture. A friendly or a creepy version both work with the same clothes.
What you probably already own
- A plaid flannel shirt and jeans
- A hat: straw, floppy or a brimmed work hat
- Brown paper bags or craft paper, cut into strips
- Eyeliner or a face-safe marker
- A rope or belt
- Safety pins or tape
Buy only if you want it
- Raffia, which is dry and light, instead of real straw
- Iron-on patches or fabric scraps for patches
- Orange face paint for a carrot nose
Step by step
- Put on the shirt and jeans. Roll the jeans to the ankle or tear the knees slightly, and add a few patches with safety pins or iron-on patches.
- Cut brown paper into strips about a half inch wide and 8 inches long. Crumple them a little so they curl.
- Tuck the strips into the cuffs, the collar and the bottom of the jeans, so they poke out like straw. Pin them from the inside so they stay.
- Tie a rope or belt at the waist and tuck in more strips around the middle.
- Draw the face. Use eyeliner to draw stitches on your cheeks and a line across your mouth, with small cross-stitches. A small triangle on the nose works.
- Add the hat and a bit of rouge or orange on your cheeks. If you want a creepy version, add dark eye shadows and tilt your head.
Wearing it seated
Seated notes. Scarecrows have a natural slump, which suits sitting. Tuck strips at the cuffs and the collar, and keep the ones at the leg off your wheels and casters; shorter strips work better there. A loose hat is fine, but use a chin string if you move around outdoors.
Mistakes to avoid
- Real hay or straw. It sheds, itches and can trigger allergies; paper or raffia is cleaner.
- Strips that hang low and catch in wheels. Keep them short at the legs.
- Flames. Straw, paper and raffia burn fast, so keep clear of candles and jack-o-lanterns with real flames.
Make it better
Add a crow: a black felt or craft bird pinned to your shoulder. Hold a small wooden pole across your arms or lean against a fence post for a photo.
Good to know
Scarecrows go back thousands of years, and farmers across the world have used figures like them to keep birds off crops. Wearing one is a very old kind of costume.
Safety
- Test face paint and blood on a small patch of skin first.
- Make sure you can see and breathe freely.
- Keep fabric and props clear of wheels, casters and brakes, and away from real flames.