• Smilin' Sam

Smilin' Sam

Create this cute scarecrow to greet all your autumn guests.

Designed by Janelle Giese

Size

6" x 9 3/4" x 21 1/2" tall

Materials

• Two sheets of stiff 12" x 18" or larger 7-count plastic canvas
• Two 6" plastic canvas circles
• 20" wooden 1/4" dowel
• 1 1/2 cups gravel or marbles
• Two rust four-hole buttons
• One straw flower
• Powdered cosmetic blush
• Craft glue or glue gun
• Six-strand embroidery floss (for amount see Color Key)
• Fine metallic braid (for amounts see Color Key)
• Natural raffia or satin raffia straw (for amount see Color Key)
• Worsted-weight or plastic canvas yarn (for amounts see Color Key)

Cutting Instructions

A: For front, cut one according to graph.

B: For back, cut one according to graph.

C: For hat brim, cut one according to graph.

D: For base side, cut one 7 x 120 holes (no graph).

E: For base top and bottom, cut two (one for top and one for bottom) from circles according to graph.

Stitching Instructions

NOTE: Bottom E is unworked.

Step 1. Using colors and stitches indicated, work A-C and top E pieces according to graphs and D according to Base Side Stitch Pattern Guide. Using raffia and Grass Stitch (see Stitch Illustration), embroider hairline and neckline detail as indicated on A and B graphs. Fill in uncoded areas of top E using raffia and Grass Stitch; trim ends. Fill in uncoded areas of A and B pieces using denim and Continental Stitch. With matching and indicated colors, Overcast pant and sleeve ends and unfinished edges of C.

Step 2. Using braid, six strands floss, Backstitch and Straight Stitch, embroider jacket, shirt, pant and facial detail as indicated. Using floss and Cross Stitch, sew buttons to A as indicated. Note: Separate remaining floss into 2-ply strands.

Step 3. Thread one 18" strand of raffia from front to back at Running Stitch Knot hole as indicated on A graph; knot and fray ends as shown in photo. Using raffia and Running Stitch (see Stitch Illustration), embroider chin area as indicated on A and B graphs. Using two strands floss and Running Stitch, embroider along raffia detail as indicated.

Step 4. Holding A and B pieces wrong sides together, with jacket colors to correspond with jacket pattern and with matching colors, Whipstitch unfinished edges together. For dowel placement, with dk. royal, tack bottom of pants together as indicated.

Step 5. Glue cut strands of raffia to inside of pant and sleeve openings as shown in photo. Slip C over top of head; glue or tack to secure. Glue flower to hat as shown. Color cheeks with blush as desired.

Step 6. With dk. rust, Whipstitch D and E pieces together, gluing dowel into place and filling with gravel or marbles before closing.

Step 7. Slip scarecrow over dowel as shown.

Copyright © 1995 Plastic Canvas Calendar, The Needlecraft Shop. All rights reserved.