Sew Challenged

It's not because my mom didn't teach me.  She made so many things when I was a kid.  She sewed lots of our school clothes.  She even made me a bunch of shirts when I was in 8th grade. They were long sleeved so I could roll them, buttoned all the way down the front, were nice and long, one was paint splattered and one was red and black.  I loved them!  She made us giant floor pillow stuffed animals, giant dolls with tons of yarn hair and several of my prom dresses. My own boys now have their own giant stuffed animal floor pillows and you may have seen all of Mason's darling blankets with matching burp cloths.  She even made all of my nursery set complete with curtains.  I just could never get into sewing.  I have made a few things, simple curtains, bean bags, babysitting kits for my Valiant girls( yeah, it has been awhile)!  I don't have a mending pile because I know I will never mend a thing!  So, imagine my horror when my boys started scouts.  From the minute you go and purchase their first shirt you are bombarded with numbers and symbols and badges that all need to be attached.  It is rather overwhelming.  The more they earn, the more you have to sew.

Douglas had a Court of Honor in the summer.  It is apparently really embarrassing if they attend without the proper rank and merit badges put in place so I got my machine out and sewed his current rank on even though he was advancing that day.  It had to be on the shirt.  I even purchased a sash and finally attached the 5 merit badges he had earned to that point.  One is a little crooked but I knew he would forgive me.  I hated every minute of it but did my "good mom" duty.  He came home that night with a new rank advancement and 10 more merit badges. I felt like it was laundry day.  You just finish up and notice something new thrown in the hamper.  

I decided the only way I would tackle this project in a timely manner was to leave the sewing machine out where it would bug me so much that I would have to sew them on and get it put away.  Here is where it sat in my dining room.

And sat, and sat, and sat.  I dusted around it mostly. Occasionally I moved it to dust when it got really bad. Finally, when I put up my Christmas decorations it got put away along with the loose badges.

Today was dooms day, Court of Honor.  I had to get his badges on.  I couldn't have him humiliated.  Last time I was at the scout shop I ran into a little something called Badge Magic. Let me tell you, the name says it all.  I was under the impression that I would be ironing these babies on but it is even easier than that.

You stick the badge to one side of the adhesive (they already have it mapped out for you), pull the backing off and stick it to the shirt or sash.  You put it in the dryer for 15 minutes or so and press firmly around all of the edges and PRESTO, the badge is attached.  What a happy mom I was today.  I can't believe I haven't discovered this sooner.  I talked to a few ladies about it at the Court of Honor and they have been using it for years.  I don't know why I was kept out of the loop but I will NEVER sew another badge on again!  Quite a wonderful thought as the mother of 3 scouts.  If you haven't tried it, do.  I promise it is worth every penny you pay!