Earning Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badges

The seven sections in my "Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook" cover, I think, most aspects of a farmgirl’s life: Each Other, Farm Kitchen, Garden Gate, Stitching Room, Make It Easy, Outpost, and Cleaning Up. Our merit badge structure grew from those seven sections.

Stitching & Crafting

Safe Toys

Beginner Level

  • Make a set of safe toys for children in your life or for donation to the local battered woman’s shelter
  • Make at least 5 of these ideas or be creative and make others
    • Bean Bags
    • Button Yo-Yo’s
    • Jump Ropes
    • Wooden Blocks

Intermediate Level

  • Sew a handmade doll and give to the local battered women’s shelter

Expert Level

  • Sew a topsy-turvy doll
  • Sew a children’s sized apron and a matching doll-sized apron
  • Donate all three to the local battered women’s shelter


Aprons

Beginner Level

  • Sew a half apron of your choice from a pattern. 2 hour minimum time investment needed.

Intermediate Level

  • Sew a full apron of your choice from a pattern. Try one with gathering and/or ruffling. 3 hour minimum time investment needed.

Expert Level

  • Create your own new apron pattern
  • Sew your new apron pattern
  • Have your new pattern printed up and share a copy with your farmgirl chapter friends


Crochet

Beginner Level

  • If you don’t know how to crochet, learn. Don’t forget that MaryJane has excellent instructions in her “Stitching Room” book.
  • If you are just learning how to crochet, start with a simple straight scarf. If you already know how to crochet, pick a simple project.
  • Finish your crochet project (minimum time commitment: 3 hours)

Intermediate Level

  • Continue on your crochet journey and step up the pace by picking a harder project this time. Learn how to do some new moves with that hook. Learn a minimum of 3 new patterns.
  • Start and finish a new crochet project of intermediate status. (minimum time commitment needed: 5 hours)
  • This section of the badge can not be earned until you finish your project

Expert Level

  • You are ready to learn how to be a crochet guru now. Learn 3 more hook maneuvers to add jazz to your projects.
  • Start a new project of expert level (minimum time commitment needed: 7 hours)
  • This section of the badge can not be earned until you finish your project


Knitting

Beginner Level

  • If you don’t know how to knit, learn
  • If you are just learning how to knit, start with a simple straight scarf. If you already know how to knit, pick a simple project.
  • Finish your knitting project (minimum time commitment: 3 hours)

Intermediate Level

  • Continue on your knitting journey and step up the pace by picking a harder project this time. Learn how to do some new moves with those needles. Learn a minimum of 3 new patterns.
  • Start and finish a new knitting project of intermediate status (minimum time commitment needed: 5 hours)
  • This section of the badge cannot be earned until you finish your project

Expert Level

  • You are ready to learn how to be a knitting guru now. Learn 3 more needle maneuvers to add jazz to your projects.
  • Start a new project of expert level (minimum time commitment needed: 7 hours)
  • This section of the badge can not be earned until you finish your project


Quilting

Beginner Level

  • If you don’t know how to Quilt, learn
  • Pick a simple pattern that will help you learn the basics, even just sewing squares together
  • Learn how to add a backing and batting and do simple quilting stitches to hold everything in place
  • Finish your quilting project (minimum time commitment: 3 hours)

Intermediate Level

  • Continue on your quilting journey and step up the pace by picking a harder project this time. Try new patterns that tax your sewing ability and push you to new limits.
  • Start and finish a new quilting project of intermediate status (minimum time commitment needed: 5 hours)
  • This section of the badge can not be earned until you finish your project

Expert Level

  • You are ready to learn how to be a quilting guru now. Try new quilting techniques and patterns
  • Start a new project of expert level (minimum time commitment needed: 15 hours). Consider making a crazy quilt.
  • This section of the badge can not be earned until you finish your project


Tatting

Beginning Level

  • Take a class or teach yourself how to do the basic tatting motions. Learn:
    • Double Stitch
    • Picot
    • Chain
  • Now combine your knowledge to make a length of tatting at least 3 feet long. See MaryJane’s “Stitching Room” for wonderful needle tatting instructions.

Intermediate Level

  • Learn how to use several different types of thread for tatting
  • Learn how to join your picots to make new projects
  • Tat an edging onto a hankie. For instructions, see MaryJane’s “Stitching Room” book.

Expert Level

  • Find a tatting pattern and complete your project. Baby bonnet, booties, apron pocket, etc., all made only from tatting (minimum time commitment needed: 5 hours)
  • Host a teaching clinic for your chapter to share the knowledge you gained in achieving this badge


Homespun Christmas

Beginner Level

  • Make at least 25% of your Christmas presents this year homemade as well as Christmas ornaments

Intermediate Level

  • Make at least 50% of your Christmas presents this year homemade as well as Christmas ornaments

Expert Level

  • Make all your Christmas presents homemade this year as well as Christmas ornaments


Learn to Sew

Beginner Level

  • Put together a beginning sewing kit with a homemade Pinkeeper. Include:
    • Several different colors of thread
    • Buttons
    • Scissors
    • Needles
    • Straight pins
    • Safety pins

Intermediate Level

  • Learn how to sew a straight seam both by hand and by machine
  • Learn several different types of seams, including French and flat seams

Expert Level

  • Sew a BakeOver TakeOver (“Ideabook,” p. 234) and gift to the hostess of the next potluck you attend (with a BakeOver inside for the potluck, of course)
  • Sew your own set of hot pads and embroider them using MaryJane’s patterns (“Ideabook,” p. 237)


Find a Button, Keep a Button

Beginner Level

  • Start your own button collection. You never know when you will need them! 50 button minimum. Take extra pride in your collection if they are all found, not bought.

Intermediate Level

  • Make a button ribbon, bracelet, and charm string.

Expert Level

  • Research the history of buttons (in an era of your choice) and the kinds of buttons that were worn in that time period. Collect at least 10 different kinds of antique buttons and include one of each made from metal, wood, china, and rubber.


Embroidery

Beginner Level

  • Learn and review embroidery skills
  • Make a sampler for future reference. Practice each stitch until you are happy with it.

Intermediate Level

  • Embroider you own set of “Days of the Week” tea towels (“Ideabook,” p. 228)

Expert Level

  • Embroider all of the “Vitamin Ball” (“Ideabook,” p. 232) patterns on tea towels
  • Embroider a set of pillowcases with a pattern of your choice

 

What's the Farmgirl Sisterhood? | Logo Rules | Earning Merit Badges
Merit Badge Details: Each Other | Farm Kitchen | Garden Gate | Stitching & Crafting
Make It Easy | Outpost | Cleaning Up