farmer
Wide brim straw hat
The classic. A woven straw hat with a wide brim shades the face, holds raffia well, and says scarecrow from across the street. Fray the edge of the brim for a field worn look.
The hat does half the work
Scarecrow hats and accessories
The best scarecrow hat is a wide brim straw hat or a floppy brown felt hat with raffia glued under the brim and one stitched patch on the crown. A pointed, slightly crooked crown reads as storybook; a flat crown straw hat reads as farmer. Add the accessories below and almost any outfit becomes a scarecrow.
Choose your scarecrow hat
Five hat styles cover every scarecrow. Pick the one that matches your look, then add straw.
storybook
Floppy pointed felt hat
A soft brown or olive felt hat with a pointed, slightly bent crown. It is the storybook and Oz silhouette and looks great with a patch and straw at the brim.
cute
Mini hat headband
A tiny straw hat on a headband, tilted to one side, with a sunflower or bow. It keeps hair visible for braids and does not blow away.
kids
Kids scarecrow hat
A soft felt or straw hat sized for kids, or a headband hat for toddlers who will not keep a chin elastic on.
scary
Battered, tattered hat
For scary looks, a dark felt hat with a torn brim, dirty straw and a crow perched on top. Rub it with brown paint for grime.
10 minutes
Upgrade any hat
Already own a hat? Glue raffia under the brim, add a patch to the crown, tie twine as a band, and pin on one accent. Steps are below.
Upgrade any hat in 10 minutes
- Straw under the brim. Hot glue small bunches of raffia every couple of inches around the underside of the brim, so they hang over the edge.
- One patch. Glue a square of burlap, gingham or felt to the crown at a slight angle. Draw stitches around it.
- A band. Wrap jute twine or a folded bandana around the base of the crown.
- One accent. A sunflower, a few wheat stems, or a small fake crow pinned to the brim.
- Shape it. Bend the brim unevenly. Scarecrow hats look best a little lopsided.
Hats are only half of it. The rest of the accessories below turn plain clothes into a scarecrow. For the full outfit, see the DIY scarecrow costume.
Scarecrow accessories checklist
From must haves to nice extras.
- Shop (opens Amazon in a separate tab)
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- Shop (opens Amazon in a separate tab)
- Shop (opens Amazon in a separate tab)
- Shop (opens Amazon in a separate tab)
- Shop (opens Amazon in a separate tab)
- Shop (opens Amazon in a separate tab)
- Shop (opens Amazon in a separate tab)
Questions people ask
What hat does a scarecrow wear?
Usually a wide brim straw hat or a floppy felt hat with a pointed crown, both with straw at the brim and a patch on the crown. Straw reads as farmer; pointed felt reads as storybook.
How do I add straw to a hat?
Hot glue small bunches of raffia under the brim every couple of inches so the ends hang past the edge. On a felt hat, fabric glue works too.
What accessories make a scarecrow costume?
Raffia straw, a rope belt, fabric patches, work gloves, a bandana and a fake crow. A sunflower, a burlap treat bag and a foam pitchfork are fun extras.
Where can I buy a scarecrow hat?
Costume shops, craft stores and online retailers all carry them. Search for a wide brim straw hat or a scarecrow felt hat, or use the links on this page.
Keep planning
DIY scarecrow costumeFlannel, burlap and straw in about 40 minutesWomen's scarecrow costumeCute, pretty, scary and plus size looksMen's scarecrow costumeFarmhand, scary sack face and 5 minute buildsWizard of Oz scarecrowStorybook, classic film era and the Fiyero lookScarecrow makeupEasy, cute and scary, step by stepKids and toddler scarecrowSoft, itch free and school friendly