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
|