Sew in name tapes for lazy people?

[mrsrawlinson]

In a fit of Stepford-mum-ism I have just purchased 150 sew in name tapes for my DTs' new school uniforms. I've decided that as their new school is a bit blazers-and-briefcases it would not reflect well upon either them or me for them to turn up with their names scrawled in Sharpie marker like at their last school. There's loads of it as well - the uniform list was 3 A4 pages (cue 2 gruelling hours in the Schoolwear Centre. No wonder they keep a defibrillator by the till...)

However...

I hate sewing. I mean really, really hate it. If I had a choice between sewing in 150 name tapes by hand and having my eyes pierced by the dentist at my mother-in-law's house, I'd give the latter some serious consideration. It's no good asking my mum either as she'd probably fall over laughing.

Does anyone have any ingenious solutions to spending the next 2 weeks sewing the damned things in and teaching the DCs a whole new vocabulary? Any sort of clever gadget or do-it-for-you service that anyone knows of? I'd be grateful for any suggestions.

Sorry, I'm a Sharpie on the label girl....I've never done sew in tapes in my life. Iron in, at a push yes. But sew on? What's the point in all that extra work? if they are going to lose their jumper, they're going to lose their jumper!

out-source? Do you have a cleaner who'll moonlight?!

no solution
iron on ones here
i have 3million of them

just buy some iron on tape, cut it to size and iron them on. either that or staples

taggits

There is a service at a school shop near me, whereby all your uniform comes with the labels stitched in (I did ask what happens if you have got the size wrong, they unpick the labels for you!)

A mother at a local primary school to me also charges by the hour to do it.

However, I am currently sewing in around as many as you. imho, if I am too much of a snob to use the iron on jobs I should just deal with it!

I have a plaster on my little finger joint, as when I pull the thread tight it has repeatedly cut through my skin. I am using my sewing marathon as an excuse to sit on the sofa in the evenings drinking wine watching old series of NCIS.

Staedtler permanent markers are good I find - the ones with nice fine tips.

I have no sewing tips to offer I'm afraid. Ask your mum anyway, wait until she stops laughing and then bribe her convince her you're serious

taggits sound fantastic - how do they work? Are they permanent - can you remove them when you finish with the clothes/hand them on to the next child/charity shop etc?

Ooh Marmaduke I like the sound of that shop! classy

Stamp

Taggits keep coming off in the wash for me I may be doing something wrong though...

I don't notice until I get told off by school

Thanks everyone, I've just ordered some of those Taggit thingumyjigs now. I can already feel my mental health improving!

BTW, Marmaduke, that shop of yours sounds wonderful! Do you live in heaven?

How do you put the taggits on?

Who cares? No sewing!

LOL well yes...but buying a million of them and then discovering the damn things come off because I haven't also bought a gadget-a-doo-dah to get them on with would be pointless!

I think they look a bit like a plastic drawing pin that you poke through the fabric, then a lid goes on the other side and you snap off the excess pokey part. No gadget-a-doo-dah required from what I could see.

hmm...which may well render me thumb-and-finger-less given that there's no easy gadget-a-doo-dah!

That suits me. Better to sacrifice a few digits than have to sew!

This is very true ponders whether to just use the marker pen like last year [lazy slattern emoticon]

HereNametag-it.co.ukI only had a week to get DS uniform ready. Could not be faffed with sewing, despite my mum's pursed lips of disapproval. In my defence, I am danger to myself and other people when I sew, so I think they are great. I just put the tag through the label so it doesn't show outside the clothes. Surely it's only independant schools that insist that labels are sewn in? I'd rather do other things with my time.

Meant to add, click on clip ons for the link below (above)? I am spatially confused now because I always flip.

very nearly, mrsr, very nearly.

I'm sure it is not at the schools insistence, but the 'keeping up with the Jones' '

I nearly always buy second hand uniform and judge the way the labels are sewn to make up for my feeling of failure at not buying new stuff (£41.50 for each summer dress )

They come with a special pushy onny device - not essential but saves thumb/shoe/hammer

Thanks for the link, Toolly. They look much the same as the clippit things I've ordered, just by a different name.

It's not the school that insist, just my irrational terror of turning up for the DTs' first day at fancy independent school with them looking like urchins [inferiority complex emoticon]. I'm not entirely sure how I expect woven name tapes to alleviate this, but I figure it can't hurt.

IKWYM Marmaduke, I too had to reach for the smelling salts when I saw the price of the summer dresses! All I could think was "She could have two dozen from ASDA for what they'll cost!" Fortunately the school have a lovely PTA shop that I managed to get a good proportion of it from, which cushioned the blow somewhat.