to consider offering a badge sewing service?

[Hippee]

Just spent an evening sewing badges on DS's Cub uniform and I really don't mind it. I hear so many people moaning about doing it, so I wondered whether I should offer to do it and, if so, how much I should charge. It takes 3-5 minutes to sew a badge on, depending on size. I am a SAHM and do loads of voluntary work, but was actually thinking of keeping the money in this case - and perhaps donating a percentage to the Cubs. If you hate sewing, how much would you pay?

@Hippee Slow. It's going slow.

Duggee and the squirrels would love this

Sewing badges is easy though.

We save sewing with Brownies for pack holidays when there is a lot of time and a very high leader to child ratio...

If it is that easy to sew with children, feel free to encourage them to do it at home anyway.

Why did I sign my children up for swimming, gymnastics and Beavers? All require sewing!

My tip for badges is big, sharp household needles and embroidery thread. Most (but not all) badges have the edging where you can go through the edging rather than the canvas.

At least I don't have to get through a Brownie sash, although I will soon have to unpick hours of Beaver badge sewing and add to the camp blanket, plus starting again with Beaver 2, meanwhile setting up the Cub jumper.

I'm a glutton for punishment!

We do this as part of our business (clothes shop & repairs /alterations service). We charge £3 per badge and £2 per nametape. (Bear in mind we have commercial overheads to pay - shop rent, utilities etc). If I were doing it from home I'd charge £1 per badge / nametape.

Badges, where possible, we sew by machine because it's much quicker and stronger

If someone wants 5 or more we offer a discount.

Oh and yes, demand is huge!

I would pay for this! I hate sewing badges on, my kids ones are all squint!

People with bleeding fingers - you need THIMBLES!!!

Seriously, that's what they're for - you push the needle through the fabric with them and they protect your poor fingers

And, yes, Guides AND Scouts were expected to sew on their own badges - Robert Baden-Powell could certainly sew himself. And it was definitely the tradition for even Prima Ballerinas to sew their ribbons onto their shoes.

@Hippee Did you give it a try - hows it going? I am thinking maybe I might try the same given all the moaning outside Brownies this evening!!

LittleOwl153 - no takers, despite everyone grumbling about sewing .

I'd definitely pay for this. I know I should just learn to sew but I'd rather pay someone else!

DD's Brown Owl suggested wonderweb (onto a blanket they can keep not a uniform) but sewing definitely looks more dedicated neater.

I think £3 a badge is about right. My DD has just one Brownie badge sewn on that she did herself plus about ten still in a box...she is nearly ten so will be moving up to Guides soon! It’s just so time consuming if you’re not very good at it!

i would pay whatever for this service as i cant sew at all

i have a leader, one in explorers and one in cubs that i cant sew their badges on

I'm not brilliant at sewing on my son's Cubs badges but it's one thing that makes me feel like a proper mother when I do it! Even if they are crooked. But I think lots of people would go for that as a service. Most of my friends with kids in Cubs etc get their mothers/MILs to do the sewing...

I was cross because I mentioned to my son he hadn't had any new badges for a while and he said he had come home with some a couple of weeks ago (he often gets a lift with another parent). No idea where the badges are - I haven't seen them! Must check all his coat pockets etc. That boy would lose his own head if it wasn't attached. No idea how to get replacements - he can't even remember what badges they were...

@5foot5 this is kind of what our cubs did. The pack had been out of uniforms (long story) so when uniform came back, all kids made a bag to keep their cub books & other nonsense in, and sewed a badge onto it. Kids made the bags with sewing machines and ALL loved it. Then when they got their uniforms, they got to sew their own badges on. Interesting results, but no parental input required. Win!

£3 per badge , two for £5 send like a good deal to me

I hate sewing, so DD sews her own on. I told her guiding is supposed to be about learning skills so she would need to do her own. However, her interest badges, Go For Its and the like go straight on the camp blanket, and commemorative badges go on her hoodie. She only has pin badges on her polo shirt. I think it is possible that she's the only one in her unit who does her own though, but the others may have a parent or grandparent who doesn't mind sewing.

I still do any name tapes she needs though. :)

I took my DC blazers and badges to get sewn on after I spent too many hours sewing (and cursing)
It was a real Bitch'n'Stitch session!

Sewing on a flat surface (like DD gymnasrics leotard or DS Karate suit) no problem. Sewing onto a pocket with a needle - complete 'mare.

Though it was £8.50/badge , it increased to £12 in Sept '17 . Luckily DD last school blazer , near 50% increase

( I washed the blazer and took it to the BHF )

Came on to say, first badge they do should be sewing badge!

If those saying they’d love this service posted on here where about they are people could pm them if they could do it for them.

I love sewing badges and name tapes, strangely therapeutic! (Obviously need to get out more!)

Our local ballet shop has just started offering a sewing service for ribbons and elastics and leotard straps etc. That might be another place to drum up business.

I get DH to do it - he’s got stronger fingers than I have. And is better at sewing.