Uniform Requirements
To get started, you will be required to buy a blue short-sleeve shirt (only orderable directly from Scouts Direct online here). For the rest of the uniform, scouts can wear navy shorts alongside black school shoes if they already have them.
Once your child is formally invested into the group, they will receive their official group scarf and a woggle as part of the ceremony.
Please refer directly to the national Scouting New Zealand structural layout diagram to ensure all achievement indicators are positioned accurately: Open Cub Uniform Layout Diagram
⚠️ Important Pre-Wash Notice:
Please wash brand-new uniform shirts before sewing any badges on. New cotton fabric may shrink slightly during its first cycle, which can permanently distort or pucker newly attached badges.
How to Sew on Badges
🧵 Method One: Using a Sewing Machine
- Secure Placement: Pin the badge firmly into the correct position using at least two sewing pins.
- Verify: Double-check the uniform layout diagram to confirm alignment before dropping the needle.
- Top-Side Entry: Work directly from the top side of the shirt, driving straight through the face of the badge.
- Bobbin Setup: Use a grey thread matching the color of the uniform shirt on your bottom bobbin.
- Top Setup: Use clear or invisible nylon thread on the top spool. Because it is invisible, you won’t need to change threads for different colored badge borders.
- Corners & Turns: Travel a small amount at a time. Leave the needle down in the fabric, lift the presser foot up, and rotate the shirt slowly to keep both the badge and material completely flat.
- Sleeve Trick: When working on the shoulder sleeves, turn the shirt completely inside out. This allows you to machine-stitch comfortably inside the armhole without having to wrap the small sleeve around the machine’s arm bed.
🪡 Method Two: Hand Sewing
Ideally, use a sewing thread that matches the outer embroidered border color of the badge. If you do not have a close color match, clear or invisible nylon thread works perfectly.
- Secure Placement: Pin the badge firmly into the correct position using at least two sewing pins.
- Verify: Double-check the uniform layout diagram to confirm alignment before beginning.
- Border Stitching: Use small, neat overhand stitches running through the thick border edge of the badge, catching just the fabric immediately underneath.
- Manage Thread Length: Keep your working length of thread no longer than your forearm. Anything longer significantly increases the chances of tangling and knotting.
- Single Thickness: Thread your needle with a single strand thickness rather than double; it remains much cleaner and less visible.
- Protect Your Fingers: You may need to use a thimble. The composite uniform fabric and thick badge backings can be quite tough to push a needle through by hand.