Sewing

The Farmgirl Sisterhood entry has the same problem as before.  I'm sorry but putting together a sewing kit ought to be a requirement, but not enough to earn even part of a badge.  You don't get points toward a camping badge for buying your gear.

Requirements:


Make one each of the following and enter them into the country fair:


- Man's shirt
- Woman's shirt
- Child's dress
- Tote bag
- Stuffed toy

Embroidery

The Farmgirl Sisterhood entry on embroidery runs into the same problem as the one on food storage.  It's not challenging for anyone past an outright beginner for one.  Which is fine but a merit badge should push you to become an expert.  And I shouldn't have to buy her book for another.  In addition "vitamin ball" embroidery looks to be anthropomorphic vegetables, cute but it does kind of lock you into a style.  A true merit badge should allow for some personal expression while fulfilling the requirements, so you can have something useful after.

So here we go.

Requirements:

1) Complete a sampler using every stitch listed on the Needle And Thread website.  (Needle and Thread is run by Mary Corbet, an established expert on Ecclesiastical Embroidery and a student of the Royal School of Needlework.)

2) Complete The projects in each of the The Royal School of Needlework's  Essential Guides:  Stumpwork, Blackwork, Silk Shading, Whitework, and Crewelwork.

3)  Complete the Beyond Cross-stitch series level two (silk ribbon embroidery).

3)  Complete a smocking sampler and smock a child's dress.

4)  Complete a chicken-scratch apron.

5)  Using the techniques from 1 & 2 complete at least one pillow and one wall hanging.

6)  Enter all of the above in the county fair.

Wilderness Survival

From the BSA Manual

Wilderness Survival requirements

Show that you know first aid for, and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur in backcountry settings, including hypothermia, heat reactions, frostbite, dehydration, blisters, insect stings, tick bites, and snakebites. From memory, list the seven priorities for survival in a backcountry or wilderness location. Explain the importance of each one with your councelor. Discuss ways to avoid panic and maintain a high level of morale when lost, and explain why this is important. Describe the steps you would take to survive in the following conditions: a. Cold and snowy b. Wet (forest) c. Hot and dry (desert) d. Windy (mountains or plains) e. Water (ocean, lake, or river) Put together a personal survival kit and explain how each item in it could be useful Using three different methods (other than matches), build and light three fires. Do the following: a. Show five different ways to attract attention when lost. b. Demonstrate how to use a signal mirror. c. Describe from memory five ground-to-air signals and tell what they mean. Improvise a natural shelter. For the purpose of this demonstration, use techniques that have little negative impact on the environment. Spend a night in your shelter. Explain how to protect yourself from insects, reptiles, and bears. Demonstrate three ways to treat water found in the outdoors to prepare it for drinking. Show that you know the proper clothing to wear in your area on an overnight in extremely hot weather and in extremely cold weather. Explain why it usually not wise to eat edible wild plants or wildlife in a wilderness survival situation.

Badge found here

Fly fishing

From the BSA Manual

Fly Fishing requirements

Explain to your counselor the injuries that could occur while fly-fishing and the proper treatment, including cuts, scratches, puncture wounds, insect bites, hypothermia, and heat reactions. Explain how to remove a hook that has lodged in your arm. Name and explain five safety practices you should always follow while fly-fishing. Discuss how to match a fly rod, line and leader to get a balanced system. Discuss several types of fly lines, and explain how and when each would be used. Review with your counselor how to care for this equipment. Demonstrate how to tie proper knots to prepare a fly rod for fishing: a. Tie a backing to a fly reel spool using the arbor backing knot b. Attach backing to fly line using the nail knot c. Attach a leader to fly line using the needle knot, nail knot or loop-to-loop connection d. Add tippet to a leader using a double surgeon’s loop or blood knot e. Tie a fly onto the terminal end of the leader using the improved clinch knot Explain how each of the following types of flies are used: dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, streamers, bass bugs, and poppers. What does each imitate? Tie at least two types of the flies mentioned in this requirement. Demonstrate the ability to cast a fly consistently and accurately using overhead and roll cast techniques. Go to a suitable fishing location and make observations on the types of insects fish may be eating. Look for flying insects and some that may be on or beneath the water’s surface. Look under rocks. Explain the importance of matching the hatch. Explain the importance of practicing Leave No Trace and how it positively affects fly-fishing resources. Obtain a copy of the regulations affecting game fishing where you live. Explain why they were adopted and what you accomplish by following them. Explain what good outdoor sportsmanlike behavior is and how it relates to fishermen. Tell how the Outdoor Code of the Boy Scouts of America relates to a fishing enthusiast, including the aspects of littering, trespassing, courteous behavior, and obeying fishing regulations. Using the fly-fishing techniques you have learned, catch two different kinds of fish and identify them. Release at least one of them unharmed. Clean and cook another fish.

Badge found here.

Fishing

From the BSA Manual

Fishing requirements

1. Do the following: a. Discuss the prevention of and treatment for the following health concerns that could occur while fishing, including cuts, scratches, puncture wounds, insect bites, hypothermia, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and sunburn. b. Explain how to remove a hook that has lodged in your arm. c. Name and explain five safety practices you should always follow while fishing. 2. Discuss the differences between two types of fishing outfits. Point out and identify the parts of several types of rods and reels. Explain how and when each would be used. Review with your counselor how to care for this equipment. 3. Demonstrate the proper use of two different types of fishing equipment. 4. Demonstrate how to tie the following knots: clinch, Palomar, turle, blood loop (barrel knot), and double surgeon's loop. Explain how and when each knot is used. 5. Name and identify five basic artificial lures and five natural baits and explain how to fish with them. Explain why bait fish are not to be released. 6. Do the following: a. Explain the importance of practicing Leave No Trace techniques. Discuss the positive effects of Leave No Trace on fishing resources. b. Discuss the meaning and importance of catch and release. Describe how to properly release a fish safely to the water. 7. Obtain and review a copy of the regulations affecting game fishing where you live. Explain why they were adopted and what you accomplish by following them. 8. Explain what good outdoor sportsmanlike behavior is and how it relates to anglers. Tell how the Outdoor Code of the Boy Scouts of America relates to a fishing sports enthusiast, including the aspects of littering, trespassing, courteous behavior, and obeying fishing regulations. 9. Catch at least one fish. If regulations and health concerns permit, clean and cook a fish you have caught. Otherwise, acquire a fish and cook it.

Badge found here.

Woodworking

From the BSA Manual

Woodwork requirements

Do the following: a. Show that you know first aid for injuries that could occur while woodworking, including splinters, scratches, cuts, severe bleeding, and shock. Tell what precautions must be taken to help prevent loss of eyesight or hearing, and explain why and when it is necessary to use a dust mask. b. Earn the Totin' Chip recognition. c. Tell your counselor what precautions you take to safely use your tools. Do the following: a. Describe how timber is grown, harvested, and milled. Tell how lumber is cured, seasoned, graded, and sized. b. Collect and label blocks of six kinds of wood useful in woodworking. Describe the chief qualities of each. Give the best uses of each. Do the following: a. Show proper care, use, and storage of all working tools and equipment that you own or use at home or school. b. Sharpen correctly the cutting edges of two different tools. Using a saw, plane, hammer, brace, and bit, make something useful of wood. Cut parts from lumber that you have squared and measured from working drawings. Create your own carpentry project. List the materials you will need to complete your project, and then build your project. Keep track of the time you spend and the cost of the materials. Do any TWO of the following: a. Make working drawings of a project needing - (1) Beveled or rounded edges OR curved or incised cuttings, OR (2) Miter, dowel, or mortise and tenon joints. Build this project. b. Make something for which you have to turn duplicate parts on a lathe. c. Make a cabinet, box or something else with a door or lid fastened with inset hinges. d. Help make and repair wooden toys for underprivileged children; OR help carry out a carpentry service project approved by your counselor for a charitable organization. Talk with a cabinetmaker or carpenter. Find out about the training, apprenticeship, Career opportunities, work conditions, pay rates, and union organization for woodworking experts in your area.

Badge found here.

Knitting

Taken from The Knitting Guild course catalog

LEARN TO KNIT

One Lesson. Learn to Knit written materials are designed for

individual self-study. Furnish your own knitting supplies. Learn

basic techniques and terms related to knitting. Option to send

swatches for critique by the TKGA Learn to Knit Committee.

You’re responsible for postage to the Committee. No time limit

– as long as course is still being offered. (Limited to English only.)

Lesson Outline:

• Knitting Tools and Common Abbreviations

• Casting On and Holding the Yarn

• English/American Style and German/Continental Style

• Knit Stitch, Purl Stitch, Stockinette Stitch, Seed Stitch,

Ribbing, Twisted Stitches, and Correcting Dropped Stitches

• Increases (Bar Increase, Make One (M1), Lifted Increase)

• Decreases (Knit Two Together (k2tog); Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk);

Slip One, Knit One, Pass Slipped Stitch Over (sl 1, k1, psso);

Yarn Over (yo)

• Gauge

• Useful Tips (Joining a New Ball of Yarn, Yarn Tails, Blocking)

• Instructions for Making Swatches for Committee Review.

Complete Learn To Knit course and have all swatches approved by the committee.

Complete one adult sized sweater.

Complete one lace shawl.

Badge found here.