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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To glue on Beavers (Scouts!) badges

49 replies

GirlOutNumbered · 07/06/2016 21:39

My son recently enrolled and has three badges I need to sew on.

Whilst I am familiar with the concept of sewing, I have never sewn anything. The thought of having to sew a badge on is making me sweat.

Could I stick them on with glue?? This is 2016, there must be a sensible solution out there??

OP posts:
iamdivergent · 07/06/2016 21:41

I used wonder web in beavers, dd is now a scout and she sews her own on - she learnt off of her gran.

eosmum · 07/06/2016 21:42

Wondaweb. Iron them on.

WorraLiberty · 07/06/2016 21:42

Just sew them.

There'll be 100s of internet tutorials showing you how to do it.

You can then teach your son, once you're learned.

starry0ne · 07/06/2016 21:43

There is such a thing as badge glue..However be aware the staged awards need transferring to cubs uniform when they move up

ComaToes · 07/06/2016 21:45

Do you know anyone who you can swop this bit of sewing for something they can't do / hate doing? I can sew but hate it, and tend to see if my friend will do it for me in return for some babysitting, or something like that.

Alternatively, I think most dry cleaners have a sewing machine and would probably not charge you very much as it's a quick and easy job for them.

Original poster
GirlOutNumbered · 07/06/2016 21:50

Worraliberty That's genius. I can do it with him! He learns to sew, I have the excuse that 'we did it together!@

OP posts:
Original poster
GirlOutNumbered · 07/06/2016 21:51

I do like the wonderweb idea too. I wasn't sure if the badges were too thick.

OP posts:
rookiemere · 07/06/2016 21:51

You can buy badge glue.
I thought it was my saviour, until I put one on in the wrong place. Left a horrid glue patch. Now I sew - is a lot easier now have new glasses and can see the needle head. But if you don't know how to sew then go for the badge glue.

deepdarkwood · 07/06/2016 21:52

I have two kids- we have gone through beavers/Cubs and are now at scouts level. I copydex badges and have done for years. If the scouting movement was run by women I reckon the badges would be iron on by now. We've never had a badge fall off in the washing machine, and only s very few badges transfer up (& you can just order copies online if you can't get 'em off - but I've always managed it.
www.amazon.co.uk/Copydex-Bottle-Adhesive-125-ml/dp/B0001OZIFW (I get mine from john Lewis to avoid Amazon (bloomin tax dodgers...)

Original poster
GirlOutNumbered · 07/06/2016 21:58

Thank you all, I knew mumsnet would help.
:)

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 07/06/2016 21:59

It really isn't difficult, although I can remember when DS got his first Beaver badges, I just couldn't work out how to sew them on to the sleeves of the jumper Confused. However, I soon got the hang of it, and eventually you can get your DS to do it.

Sewing is best rather than glue etc, as you will need to transfer some of the badges at some stage. DS has a camp blanket which his Beaver and Cub badges have been sewn on to, now he is in Scouts.

I now help out some parents who struggle with sewing them on. DS also does some. We have only had a few occasions when one of us has sewn all the way through the sleeve or body of the jumper so DS can't actually get it on Grin

Reindeerlily · 07/06/2016 22:13

This made me laugh! I can't sew for love nor money.
When my ds was in junior school he had a part in a play as an elf or something. Two pieces of material were sent home for the mums to sew together. I did as best I could until he was on stage and it started unraveling in front of everyone! Poor boy.
The next night he wore a different outfit and I was never asked to sew again!

Sighing · 07/06/2016 22:18

It's a life skill. Why don't you sit fown with him so he can learn too? I had to sew on all of my Brownie badges, it doesn't take too long and because you're just catching the border it doesn't need to be neat.

WitchDancer · 07/06/2016 22:19

Be aware that they might want them transferring to a camp blanket and glue will make it a right pain in the backside

Permanentlyexhausted · 07/06/2016 22:30

If the scouting movement was run by women I reckon the badges would be iron on by now. We've never had a badge fall off in the washing machine

Hmm, Girlguiding is run by women and they don't have iron-on badges. Thankfully, or it would have been more of a nightmare when my DD grew out of her uniform and needed a new one, and not so easy to flog the old one! Badge glue is the work of the devil. I am endlessly picking up badges that have fallen off my Brownies' uniforms because the glue comes unstuck.

MaureenMLove · 07/06/2016 22:35

I used to safety pin the Brownie badges onto DDs sash! And my own on my Guiders uniform. Blush.

michy27 · 07/06/2016 22:39

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

OhMrBadger · 07/06/2016 22:48

Top Tip

Wash the sweatshirt before you sew anything on in case it shrinks in the wash!

You're welcome. Grin

Permanentlyexhausted · 07/06/2016 22:50

The only badges I have on my Guiders uniform are metal pin ones. Grin

puppydogmummy · 07/06/2016 23:13

DSS in army cadets I hot glue gunned his badges on as thick fabric was too sore to sew and couldn't be arsed

budgiegirl · 07/06/2016 23:40

Glue all the way here ! 3 children through cubs/scouts, and I'm a cub leader - that's a lot of badges, and I hate sewing. I use Loctite, I've never had a badge come off. When the staged ones have had to be moved, I've just pulled them off and reglued to the new uniform with no problems.

Original poster
GirlOutNumbered · 08/06/2016 07:42

Ok, so nice decided to take the challenge of actually sewing them on with DS help.
Should I use the same cotton colour as the badge or the jumper!?

OP posts:
CarpeJugulum · 08/06/2016 07:46

Same colour as the badge rim, then the stitch over the top won't be seen.

SideOrderofChip · 08/06/2016 07:47

I would say use the same colour as the ring of the badge

ineedaholidaynow · 08/06/2016 08:19

I use the same colour thread as the badge rim, so you can't see my stitching!

Have you got a diagram showing where the badges need to go?