Cub Scouts Patches

Updated on July 17, 2011
C.O. asks from Minneapolis, MN
17 answers

Is it worth it to buy the adhesive stuff for them or would they look okay to sew them on. Any tips for sewing them on?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all the great responses. I think I'm going to try to sew them on and see how it goes. It just seems so overwhelming since it's all the patches at once.

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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

don't bother with the adhesive, if you get ANY on the shirt, it looks dirty, and it just doesn't work well... in my son's cub scout pack, the patches that aren't sewn on are constantly peeling up at the corners and it just looks sloppy. i take my son's to an alterations place and have them sew them on.

3 moms found this helpful
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C.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

I'm amazed and impressed by the number of people who sew them on. That seems overwhelming to me. My scout is a 1st year Boy Scout and started with Cub Scouts in 1st grade. I've always used Badge Magic and never had a problem. I do usually wash the shirt in cold on gentle and sometimes touch up the patches with the iron. I have had the corners peel a little on the larger patches, but the smaller patches don't do that and I've never had a patch fall off.

1 mom found this helpful

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V.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

I am an Assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts, so I see alot of shirts. Sew them on!! The badges fall off the adhesive. The adhesive is terrible and boys are really hard on their shirts! When the badges fall off it leaves behind this nasty adhesive patch that is just harder to sew through after they fall off. I have always thought they look nicer sewn on anyway.

Here's a tip I found once about sewing patches on: Instead of pinning them in place before sewing, use masking tape to hold badges in place. You can sew right over top of the masking tape and then peel it off after it is sewn. Just sew slowly and you will be fine. Another tip is for the pack numbers on the sleeve: Sew them together before you put them on the shirt, so that it is one larger badge instead of multiple smaller ones. Then sew it on the sleeve. You can do it C.! The last couple of times I sewed on patches I had 20 to do at once. That was after summer camp for my son. He is 13 years old.

By the way use a sewing machine and sew just inside the border with a same color thread. Use a straight stitch not a zig zag.

2 moms found this helpful

V.E.

answers from Denver on

I hand sew them on and they look great. We never tried the adhesive. The only time it was really a pain was the first time getting ALL the patches on. after that they only get a new patch every other month or so. I sew it around the edges next to the border with a same color thread as the patch, it is easier to sew then the actual border. Firmly pin the patch in place if youre sewing, they are a little difficult since theyre so thick.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

I know that you've had tons people already respond, but I wanted to put my 2 cents worth in. I've seen them sewn on by hand and by using a sewing machine. Personally I'd do them by sewing machine. In the 13 years that my 3 sons and husband were in Cub Scouts and then Boy Scouts, I lost track of how many patches I sewed on. I use to even sew them on for other boys in the Pack. After they got to Boy Scouts I made my sons sew at least a patch or two themselves using the sewing machine. I agree with Vicki D, the glued on ones fall off and then leave a hard mess that is hard sew through.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

I've done both. Both are fine. Adhesive works very well and I have never had one fall off - it does not fall off in the laundry.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.F.

answers from San Francisco on

I would sew them on. The Badge Magic doesn't always last and then is almost impossible to sew on unless you have your Grandmother's old all metal gear Singer and then it's still a challenge. I have a sewing business and get asked to do this often when the badges/patches fall off and it is not fun.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I am such a wimp. I have a friend who has sewn most of them on and I am just getting ready to take them to the cleaners to have this year's sewn on.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Sew them! Badge magic badges come right off in the laundry.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.L.

answers from Milwaukee on

I use the adhesive for both of my kids (girl scouts & boy scouts) and I've never had a problem with them coming off. You do have to wash them in the gentle cycle, cold water, and hang them to dry--That could be why so many people are saying it doesn't stick. No way would I ever try sewing them on after I did the first few--it took hours and was really hard to do (and I'm pretty good at sewing). Good luck!

J.

1 mom found this helpful

K.W.

answers from Milwaukee on

Hi my daughter is in Brownies and for her badges I use badge magic i buy it at the girl scout store and it cost about 8 dollars and it works real well the only thing I advise is when you wash the shirt to put it in a pillow case and let it air dry

1 mom found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Do the adhesive. They are really thick and sewing them in is a b*tch. I tried sewing one and ended up stabbing myself several times (even with a thimble on). The adhesive was easy.

1 mom found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

urgh!!! what a pain in the tuckus!!!

we have done both....the adhesive and the sewing....

I've also paid someone to sew them on for me too!!!

If you are going to sew them yourself - strong needle and instead of trying to sew at the edge - go right INSIDE the edge and use that color thread - it makes it a ton easier...

1 mom found this helpful
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G.

answers from Minneapolis on

Both work good- I prefer to sew them on - I usually pin them in place before
sewing them on the machine- You need to take it slow and sew on the inner edge of the patch. This avoids the machine from binding up and snapping the thread. Hope this helps !

1 mom found this helpful

S.H.

answers from Spokane on

I used the badge magic and didn't care for it. The edges of the badges are constantly "coming up". I think the badges look much better when they are sewn on. I have no tips tho...sorry!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.F.

answers from St. Cloud on

I always just sewed on my son's Cub Scout and Boy Scout patches, and also my daughter's Girl Scout patches. I was a Den Mother for several years and I even sewed my patches on, it was a lot easier and they seemed to stay on better. Good luck and tell that little one, I'm proud of him. Being a scout is one of the best things a child can become.

M.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

I LOVE the adhesive stuff.. I am not much of a sewer and it is so easy to use it to stick it on. I think most of the boys in my son's den us it as well.

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