I have people ask me, “How do you sew Girl Scout patches on so perfectly?”. I decided to share here. It is really easy to sew on scout badges, if you have a ‘sew in the ditch’ or ‘edgestitch’ foot for your sewing machine.
Whether you have a boy scout, girl scout or other organization where badges need to be sewn to uniforms, we’ve got you covered with our step-by-step instructions.
Have your bobbin be the thread color of the vest, and the top thread the best color to sew the patch on. I try to use the thread color of the edge of the patch. Here is how to sew on scout badges:
How to Sew On Scout Badges
Secure scout badges with top stitching on uniforms. It's quick and easy - and you don't need to worry about them falling off.
I think this is the quickest way and easiest way to make sure the badges stay put on the scout shirt or other garment.
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This is a simple sewing job.
Materials
- Thread, top thread to match the badge and bobbin to match the uniform
Tools
- Sewing machine with top stitch foot, sometimes referred to as 'edgestitch' or 'stitch in the ditch' foot, on Bernina it is #10
Instructions
- Place the patch where you'd like to sew it with the front of the patch up and the back of the badge to the garment.
Line the vertical edge of the top stitch foot along the inside edge of the badge. Slowly sew, raising your presser foot as needed to stay within the inside edges. - Continue to sew slowly around the badge until it is secure. Here are all of the badges I have sewn onto the vest.
- Trim any loose threads from the front and back of the garment.
- And, because I used bobbin thread that matched the vest, the inside looks nice, too.
Notes
Your scout can have all of their patches sewn on looking like they were done professionally, in a matter of minutes at home! It doesn't take much - the biggest secret is to have an edge stitch foot for your sewing machine, and thread that matches the base vest color for your bobbin.
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What is the best stitch to use to sew girl and boy scout badges to uniforms?
The straight stitch on your machine is the best and easiest. Just follow along the outside of the stitching with the straight stitch, using a similar color thread for your top thread and a thread color to match the uniform on the bottom thread. Some people recommend the zig zag stitch but I find it stands out too much. I prefer the straight stitch.
My patches are iron-on. Do I still need to sew them?
No, you don’t need to sew them. I prefer to iron them on first and then use the straight stitch to make them secure for the life of the uniform. Sometimes the iron-on patches tend to come ‘un-glued’ and fall off.
Tips and ideas for sewing patches and badges
- Use clear thread in both the top and bobbin for invisible thread stitching.
- If you love hand sewing, you can hand sew the badges to the uniforms.
- With thicker badges, consider switching your sewing machine needle to a topstitch needle to make it easy to sew through all of the layers.
- Have your bobbin thread match the color of the uniform so that the inside of your garment looks nice when the sash or vest is taken off.
- Clean the garment the way you will in the future before sewing the first badge. Whether you will be taking it to your local dry cleaner, or washing at home, you’ll want the garment to have the first wash before sewing the first patch. The garment may have finishes that impact the method you use to attach the badge.
- I prefer to use a straight stitch, but you can use a narrow zig zag stitch width to secure the badge.
- The sewing method above works for boy scout uniforms, council ID patches, cub scout badges, eagle scout, American flag patches, girl scout badges, merit badges and troop numbers.
No-sew ideas for securing patches and badges
- Use safety pins – best way to attach temporary patches
- Use adhesive fabric tape on the back of the patch to secure it to the uniform
- Fabric glue can be used on the back of the patch or badge
- You could try a glue stick, hot glue, or adhesive tape (like Scotch tape) – but they won’t hold up for long.
- And, you could always find a local patch service to manage this task for you!
Browse through more sewing projects on Create Whimsy.
