I have collected a lot of patches during thirty years as a Boy Scout leader. The council shoulder patches are alphabetically arranged in a three ring binder. So are the Order of the Arrow lodge patches and the patches from the 2001 National Jamboree.
The patches I have collected from attending Scouts camporees and other functions have found a place stapled to a four foot by four foot sheet of paneling that is hanging on a wall in my basement family room. (This can be seen in one of Buttons’ videos.) I have used this colorful patch filled sheet in displays set up around town for Scout Anniversary Week.
I few years ago I ran out of space on the sheet so the patches have been accumulating in a couple places around the house. I was thinking about starting a few more binders but they do not display as nicely as the paneling. I would like to be able to display them well but yet store them away easily.
It may be time to start a patch blanket, or two, or three. The reason I have not started one in the past is because I do not sew. I have tried sewing a few patches onto my uniform and discovered I am lousy at it, and I do not like doing it. Thus, I am a fan of Badge Magic.
There is a lady in Melrose who lives about three blocks from em who has a small sewing shop in her house. She has sown several patches to my uniform and was very reasonably priced for her service. I do not know what she would charge to sew a hundred patches unto a blanket. It might be a little costly, but I have to do something.
I have a few questions for those of you who read this blog. Where is a good place to find a reasonably priced blanket for this purpose? What kind of blanket should it be? Fleece or wool? What is the best size? I appreciate your suggestions and comments.
Funny you should post about this Steve as one of my friends here in the UK has done a similar post – see http://www.jabbering.co.uk/2011/01/is-there-a-blanket-ban/
For my own part I’d use a wool one as it’s not going to get holes in it when you’re round the campfire! Mine is a very old RAF one (WW2 in fact), but I guess you can still get them from military surplus stores. You can see a bit about my blanket ant see an old picture of it here – http://blog.nawbus.co.uk/?p=672
YIS
Nick
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Steve B, Nick Wood. Nick Wood said: @Kiff76 @cilben seen this? @stevejb68 Patch Blanket or Wall? (from A Scoutmaster's Blog) – http://www.melrosetroop68.org/blog/?p=1778 […]
I went to a local military surplus store and picked up an old wool blanket for $15. I turned it into a patch blanket/poncho that I can actually wear. With all of my patches on it, it’s starting to get pretty heavy, though. Good for fall/winter stuff, but only good for show in the summer.