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Why not get your scarecrow ready to be crowd-dazzling for Kirkby's Big Weekend in June?

You can join in a workshop on 27th May, or follow these top tips:
  Making a Scarecrow is incredibly easy and fun, and this is a project you can do with a spare hour of your time. When thinking about how to make a scarecrow, it depends on your chosen design. Scarecrows can come in all shapes, sizes, characters, themes, and appearances so deciding on what you want your scarecrow to look like is the best place to start. You can dress your scarecrow in anything you want. The point is to create a vaguely human shape.

Once you've got your scarecrow idea, split your design into five separate elements. This will help you decide what you will need for each step and how best to bring it together.

Overview on how to make a simple scarecrow

 1. Start with the framework: Your scarecrow will need support to keep it upright. You can use old broom handles, branches and fence posts but watch out for rusty nails that could cause harm or splinters.

2. Move onto the fixings: Think about how you will attach the different parts of your scarecrow to one another. You can use garden twine, cable ties, thin wire, raffia, or duct-tape. You can also use a hammer and nails.

3. What will the body look like? Any old piece of clothing can be used and stuffed with straw, twigs, plastic bags, shredded paper, or worn-out fleece and netting. You can also make a body out of plant pots, boxes, or old bottles.

4. The all-important head: When it comes to adding a head to your scarecrow, painted plastic plant pots, water bottles, stuffed hessian sacks and old footballs are potential materials. Don't forget to add a hat, too! An old colander looks great as a headpiece.

5. Accessories: Garnish your scarecrow with the extras needed for your entry.

Detailed instructions

1. Gather Your Scarecrow Materials

To make a scarecrow, you will need the following materials:

• Long sturdy wooden stake
• Shorter wooden crosspiece
• Old clothes, including gloves and a hat.
• Hessian sack, old tights, pillowcase.
• Straw, hay, old plastic bags good for stuffing
• Duct tape, cable ties or thin wire.
• Twine and scissors
• Hammer and nails
• Craft paint and brushes

2. Make the Scarecrow Frame

Now you're ready to start construction. Don't worry - this is one of those things that really shouldn't be perfect. The biggest thing to keep in mind is making it sturdy.

1. You need to put the shirt on the scarecrow before you make the frame (otherwise you won't be able to get it on), so slip the shorter crosspiece through the sleeves of the shirt.
2. Next, lay the larger stake on a work surface and position the crosspiece about two feet from the top of the stake, making a cross shape.
3. Fix the crosspiece to the stake. Or secure with string. Don't worry if it's not quite even or level; remember, imperfection is a bonus here.
4. You should now have a wooden cross shape with a shirt on it. Drive the wooden stake into the ground in the spot you want your scarecrow.

 3. Create the Scarecrow's Body

If your scarecrow's shirt has buttons, button them up most of the way. Add overalls or trousers. Fill the old clothes with your stuffing of choice, to create the body of the scarecrow. Tie the waist and legs of the clothes to the stake to secure the body in place. Stuff the gloves and tie them to the end of the sleeves. Have some straw or dried grass poking out of the sleeves and bottom of the trousers for effect.

4. Add the Scarecrow's Head

Here are a few ideas for how to make a scarecrow head:

Stuff an old pillowcase, an old pair of tights or a hessian sack with straw or old plastic bags and then decorate the outside with a face. You could draw or sew on a face or attach other objects that resemble eyes, a nose and a mouth.

Draw a face onto an old football and attach that to your frame using wire.

Draw a face onto a used large plastic water bottle. Turn it upside down so the top forms the neck and can easily be attached to the frame.

Use a plant pot to make a head and fill it with straw, grass or flowers to create hair. Draw or paint a face onto the pot.
If you want to get extra crafty, make a paper mâché head at home and paint it however you like. Then attach it to your frame, no stuffing required.

Don't forget to pop an old hat on top!

How do you make a scarecrow without straw?

If you don't want to stuff your scarecrow with straw, either because you don't have access to any or you are allergic, there are plenty of alternative materials you can use to stuff your scarecrow with. They include:

• twigs (be careful they aren't too sharp)
• old plastic bags
• shredded paper, newspaper and cardboard (this needs a hardy outer-layer which won't let water in)
• old clothes
• used netting from your allotment.
• leaves, grass and garden clippings

How do you make a scarecrow costume?

Your scarecrow's costume depends on the character you are creating. If your design is of a general human figure then any old clothes can be stuffed, padded out and attached to the frame. Make sure old clothes are big enough to be stuffed.

If your design is more specific – like a farmer or a film character – find clothes to match their persona. You could dye old clothes to get the right colour or even head to the charity shop and see what you can find. As previously mentioned, avoid buying anything new to adorn your scarecrow.
 
If you'd rather not use fabric, you could paint a box with a clothing design or patter