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. Below, you'll find those sections with categories in each section in which you can earn Merit Badges for things like crocheting, community service, going green, etc. Note that each category has three different levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert. Say you want to earn a Merit Badge in knitting. Once you've completed ALL the Beginner Level tasks under "Stitching & Crafting/Knitting," then you'll apply for a Merit Badge. Here at "Henquarters," we'll look over your entry, and once it's approved, your entry information will be shouted from the rooftops (cooptops?) on our forum and you'll be e-mailed a private link that includes a password to a page that has an achievement certificate and badge waiting for you that says something like, “I, MaryJane Butters, am proud to present so-and-so with this certificate of achievement, etc.” You can print out the certificate (we’re going to use lots of cool old photos for these) and frame it, and then transfer the design of the badge itself to the fabric of your choice and embroider it. For example, the Knitting Merit Badge will have a drawing of a skein of yarn and knitting needles inside a hexagon. These badges will all be hexagonal like our membership badges. However, they will be slightly smaller. Then, as your skill level progresses and you complete the tasks in the Intermediate Level of the Knitting category, you'll apply again, and when approved, you'll denote your increased prowess by adding a line of embroidery or stitching in the color of your choice around the outer edges of your badge, parallel to the hexagon shape, about 1/8" in from the edge. When you complete all the tasks in the Expert Level, you'll apply again, and when approved, you'll add another line of embroidery or stitching in the color of your choice about 1/8" in from your Intermediate Level line of stitching. When you see a sister wearing a Knitting Merit Badge without an outline stitch, you'll know she's accomplished the Beginner Level in Knitting; if it has one outline, you'll know she's accomplished the Intermediate Level. Two outlines and she's a Knitting Expert! If you aren’t an embroiderer, you can take the badge you printed from the link we provided to your local print shop and have them create an ink badge for you or you can tape the design in your window (make-do farmgirl light box), then tape your piece of badge fabric on top of that (lightweight muslin is best), and then carefully trace the design using a common ultra-fine-point permanent marker. Or you can experiment with one of the many types of fabric permanent marking pens now available. The designs themselves are a collection of our finest artwork — emblems we knew you’d be proud to wear — so for that reason, the only time you’ll be able to view them is when you earn a particular badge. The designs are so classy, you’ll want to earn them all! There will be no charge for the Merit Badges. However, the progressive outlines will have to be “threaded” somehow, so at the very least, every sister has to own a needle and thread. Merit Badge Categories Cleaning Up 1. Going Green Each Other 1. Community Service Farm Kitchen 1. Know Your Food Garden Gate 1. Bee Good to Your Mother Earth Make It Easy 1. In the Garden Outpost 1. "Out There" Women Stitching & Crafting 1. Sew Wonderful
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