DIY Craft Tutorial: Twine Scarecrow Decoration for Fall

Autumn offers so many opportunities for crafters to decorate for the fall season with bright colors and rustic textures. And this twine scarecrow is a great addition to your seasonal mantle or table. With a big smile and an optional banner, this cute guy is welcoming fall with both arms! Easy to assemble, this little fellow would also make a great gift.

Materials for Making a Twine Scarecrow Decoration for Fall

• Two styrofoam balls, one larger for the body and one smaller to use as a head. You could also use paper maché or plastic balls.
• Twine to wrap balls—you could also use yarn in different colors if you want your figure to look more like a goblin, pumpkinhead, or ghost.
• Small twigs for arms, and thicker twigs for optional legs.
• Scrap fabric or ribbon in fall colors for dressing your figure.
• Yarn or raffia to use as hair.
• White glue and hot glue for assembly.
• (Optional) Scrapbook supplies to make banner.
• Scissors, pencil, and paintbrush.

Directions for Making a Twine Scarecrow Decoration for Fall

1. Using a utility or craft knife, cut a small sliver off of the top and bottom of your larger ball so that it will stay in place while standing and has a level spot to attach the head. (See photo above.)

2. Then use your knife to cut a small piece off your smaller ball so you can rest the head on the body without it falling off.

3. You might find it easier to wrap the styrofoam balls with twine or yarn by using a small cup as a holder. Squirt a little white glue on your ball, then use a paintbrush to spread it around a small area. Working just a few wraps at a time, begin to cover your ball with twine. You can use a pin to hold the end of your twine in place as you start.

(Optional) I wanted my twine wraps to be vertical across the face and body of my figure, so I began to wrap my balls with the flat cut spots in the left and right positions as I worked.

Although I used twine for my scarecrow, you could use orange yarn or string to create a pumpkinhead figure. You could also use green yarn to create a goblin figure, or white yarn to make a skeleton or ghost.

4. Continue to add glue and work around your ball until entirely covered with twine or yarn. You can use another pin to hold your end in place while your glue dries. Then trim your twine or yarn ends as close to your balls as possible.

Important—when your pieces are covered in twine, leave them apart while you create your scarecrow accessories.

5. Using some black fabric or construction paper, cut out some features for your scarecrow face. You can use the photo above as a template for the mouth, nose, and eyes. Use white glue to attach these features to your smaller ball.

6. I made some small boots for my scarecrow out of polymer clay. You may be able to find some small shoes at a craft shop or use doll shoes if you want. This is optional.

If you don't want to use shoes, you can wrap some thicker twigs with twine or yarn to create legs. Or just use the base as a round ball.

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7. Cut two twigs to use as arms for your scarecrow. These twigs should be about 2 to 4 inches long, depending on the size of your figure. However, do not attach your arms yet.

I used twigs with little sprouts off the sides to make them look more like hands. I like the rustic touch that these twig accents add to my scarecrow.

At this point, your scarecrow should still be in separate pieces.

8. Next, begin to make some clothing details for your figure. I made a collar for my scarecrow by tracing the flat area of my smaller ball on to a piece of scrap fabric. This gave me the neck size for my collar. I then traced a larger circle around my smaller neck circle. Once I had cut out my larger circle and removed the center, I cut a notch in the front to create a collar.

You could also use fabric or ribbon to create patch pockets or suspenders for your scarecrow.

9. Cut lengths or yarn or raffia to make some wild hair for your scarecrow. (You might skip this step if making a goblin, pumpkinhead, skeleton, or ghost.)

I cut my yarn pieces to be about 5 inches in length initially. Cut enough yarn or raffia so you can spread it around the head to cover the back. Then I tied them loosely together with another piece of yarn. While my hair was still bundled, I trim the ends so they were uneven to give my scarecrow a worn and unkempt look.

Assembling Your Twine Scarecrow Decoration

Now you can put together the pieces off your scarecrow.

10. First, I glued my collar around the flat top of my figure's body, crossing the top corners a bit. I then added a few buttons down the front of the body. I used white glue for these pieces.

11. Next, I glued on my head using hot glue and making sure that my smaller ball sat level and flat on the body.

12. Using more hot glue, I attached the hair to the top of the head. If you have enough hair, you can spread it along the back and glue it in place.

13. Then glue your legs and arms in place using hot glue, being careful to place them evenly on the body.

Adding an Optional Banner to Your Scarecrow

Adding a banner to your scarecrow is optional, but a fun way to add more decoration and color to your figure. I used some cardboard letters that I bought at the craft store. You should be able to find many fall accents in the scrapbook section of your local craft store for making a small banner.

I taped these letters to some thin twine and carefully tied my banner to the twig arms of my scarecrow.

I love how my fall figure turned out and he joins my scrap fabric leaves, my stacked pumpkin topiary, and my recycled sweater pumpkin on my fall mantle.

© 2016 Donna Herron

Comments

Donna Herron (author) from USA on July 16, 2017:

Hi Flourish! Thanks so much. Glad you like this fall craft and it has inspired you to do some crafting with your family. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Elaina Baker from USA on July 15, 2017:

How cute! Especially with fall coming up, this would be a nice craft to make with my nephews and nieces.

Donna Herron (author) from USA on September 21, 2016:

Thanks, teaches12345! So glad you like this project. I hope it inspires some wonderful fall crafts for you. Thanks so much for your comments! I appreciate it!

teaches12345 on September 20, 2016:

What an adorable craft and decoration for fall. I was just looking at my decor for this season and I may have to add this to my list of DYI items.

Donna Herron (author) from USA on September 14, 2016:

Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed this tutorial and I hope you have fun making your own twine figures for autumn. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

KonaGirl from New York on September 13, 2016:

Adorable! Great instructions for such a cute fall piece. Following the basic instructions, it can be dressed anyway your creative heart takes you.

Donna Herron (author) from USA on September 13, 2016:

Thanks, Sally! These scarecrow figures are easy to personalize by adding different accessories. There's all different items in the scrapbook section of craft stores that can be added to dress up or personalize each one. I'm sure your little artists will love making them. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Sally Gulbrandsen from Norfolk on September 12, 2016:

Donna,

This one was well worth waiting for. It is so cute and so doable. I hope I get a chance to do this with a group of little children who I know will love it. I absolutely love the photos and the attention to detail. You have excelled yourself.