Both my grandsons are in Scouts, one in Boy Scouts, the other with one year left in Cub Scouts. They have collected quite a few patches for the various activities in which they have participated. I want to do something with all those patches that can be added to as they continue with Scouts and that won't seem too 'dorky' when they are older!! I saw someone's posting of a quilt where they included patches, but a quilt now could not have patches easily added to it later on, so I'm trying to come up with another idea. Can you help? I'm feeling very uncreative right now!!

You could do the red vest. Either the boys could make it or you can purchase one at the scout store and attach the patches as you go. That's what we did.

Maybe make a shirt quilt with patches and buttons and all?

When I was a pack leader & mine were in scouts, they had the patches sewn onto the back of their red vests. Actually, I made a drawing for a center circle patch with an Indian logo, pack # & such on it. Then we took the drawing to a place that made patches & had the patches made for the whole Pack. As the boys earned the little badges, they were sewn around the bigger center circle. The patches that are slightly curved on the bottom will make a circle when laid out & this is the size center patch I had made.

I have the red vests for them with many of the patches already sewn on, but they won't ever wear them. At least that's what my SIL tells me. So I was trying to come up with some other way to showcase them that they might want to at least keep, maybe have to share with their own sons someday.

I have a large collection of Girl Scout patches that I have sewn onto a backpack. Some I was able to sew by machine, and some that are close to the bottom or the zipper I had to do by hand ( use a thimble!). I always use it when I travel, with Scouts or with family, and it has started some fun conversations with strangers in the airport.

When I retired from being Girl Scout Leader..my troop's Moms took one of all the patches we had earned since our days as Brownies and made a wallhanging for me.

Some scouts want to use them as a collection to trade with other scouts at Jamboree's.. A three ring binder with plastic baseball card holders can keep them safe.

My husband was an Eagle Scout. His patches were all sewn on to his sash. They wore the sash with the uniform back then. We took his sash, photo of his ceremony for Eagle, his cap, 8 x 10 of his troop, the Mother's pin etc. and had a shadow box made with matting in scout colors, green yellow & red. It is awesome! He is retired and a sr. citizen, this still proudly hangs in our den.

You can also purcase a patch blanket from a Boy Scout Suppy store. I have three grandsons in scouts and for Christmas I got three blankets from the supply store and sewed the patches on and embroidered their names on the corners.

You could do a wall hanging and put the soft side of velcro in the center of squares. Then they can velcro the patches on as they get them. Maybe do one for the ones they have now and one for future patches.

My son is a First Class Scout and all the scouts in our troop wear the patches on their sashes. I am saving old rank badges and such that are not on his sash for a quilt for him when he makes Eagle. I have a large collection of the Robert Kaufman BoyScout fabrics in my stash for this project. Good luck with yours!

I like the backpack idea! But my boys (seventeen) use theirs until they fall apart (6 months average). Maybe the wallhanging for now would be most appropriate.

yes you can sew patches on a quilt---i have seen recently a few quilts with th applique sewn on after the quilting and they look great---i did the grey blanket 30 years ago for my dsaughter--then the dogs had it--then it was used to put out a fat fire--the quilt would have more longevity

A quilter friend of mine makes jean quilts and puts the patches on each block....arrange them all over with blank spaces to put more patches later

I recently saw a gentleman's sash in a shadow box at his funeral. His grandson's are now in scouting. I think when they are kept in the shadow box they are more likely to be kept safe and sound and when hung on the wall a remembrance whenever looked upon.

The red vest is generally not worn much and therefore just kept in the closet and never seen or remembered.

I personally would do the sash with all the den information etc. If you get a nice shadow box, it can be kept in the box, taken out to add patches and for when needed to be worn for the special occasions.

Try to get as much information as possible now as to when each patch was earned and keep with the sash. This information will be much appreciated later on in life.

Good luck with the patches and to the scouts!

Pam M

I was able to find Boy Scout material at a LQS. You might want to try online as the LQS doesn't have it right now. There were several fabrics in the line. I used the larger pieces each as a block and sashed with dark red BS fabric, the put that dard red BS around as a larger border. The backing was another BS fabric.

The young man I made it for later attached his patches to the border and used it for a wall hanging.

Will try to find the picture.

ali

Thank you all so much for your ideas. One point to clarify, though, is that I'm talking about 'patches' rather than 'badges'. The badges are ones they have to do multiple tasks to earn. Patches are unofficial and given out for something as simple as going on a particular camping trip or an excursion of some kind. It is my understanding that only the official badges are to be placed on the uniform sash - therefore, the red vests that the boys don't seem to want to wear! I'm trying to figure out something to do with these unofficial patches other than the vest.

www.McCallsQuilting.com has a free web bonus for a banner for Scout patches. It's called "On My Honor...Be Prepared!" My daughter downloaded the pattern with thoughts of making one for each of her kids.

Sorry I can't provide a direct link--I'm not computer literate enough to know how to do it. :-D

In Canada we encouraged our scouts/guides to make "camp blankets" Get a square piece of polar fleece in the appropriate color. fold in half and cut a "T" on the fold in the middle. This creates an opening for the head and is now like a poncho - then you can either hand sew or machine sew the patches on. It makes a great poncho to wear to campfires, polar bear swims and extra blanket for the tent.

I wish I would have known about the hole what a super idea~I've sewed my patches and my boys' patches on fleece blankets. they display them on their beds and usually take them when they go to camp.

Wonderful that you are thinking ahead. My son became an eagle scout. There is a ceremony and reception afterwards. At least for his generation ( 31 now).

All his patches were saved. I put them in a frame against fabric of olive pant green like boy scout . BUT I had saved his boy scout shirts with all the arrows and patches. all his stuff was original as placed on as a little boy.. The 150 plus people that attended were from his original cub scout adult leaders through to scouts, family and friends. They were all thrilled to see everything and hung around each patch remembering.
My advise. Not sew now, but keep well tucked in a box if you already have not added to a shash, vest ect. and label what, when and where. add pictures of him at his age in the shirts as you go.

The fantastic quilt was for after scouts was over. and it was FANTASTIC !! I do remember what you are talking about.

Good luck. enjoy your scouts ! they have fun ! Much success to all figuring all this out.

My mom made a quillow for my son. She did not do any quilting on it. She machine stitches the patches on and that becomes the quilting.