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Girl Scout Service Unit 518
(Mountain Home, Arkansas)
 
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How To Make a Sit-Upon

This is a Girl Scout tradition. There are many ways to make a sit upon, also known as a sit-up-on.  Here's how our Brownie Troop girls made theirs.

We used vinyl cloth-backed tablecloths in the largest standard rectangular size 54" x 90".  These cost about $2.50 and made 9 situpons per tablecloth. You can also use vinyl sold by the yard that's not too expensive. Here's how to do it:

Pre-cut the tablecloth into nine sections according to the picture at right using pinking shears along the gray lines shown in the picture. Discard the side edge pieces since the corners are not square and it's extra fabric anyway. Each section will be 15" x 30". 

Fold each section in half so that you have a 15x15" sit upon. Stuff folded newspapers inside, or use squares of donated carpet padding that you have precut to 13"x13" sections. 
 Use a hole punch to punch holes about every inch all the way around about a half inch from the edge. Depending on the age and abilities of the girls, you can have them punch the holes, or you can help them.

Use yarn or string to sew around. Girls can use an overlay stitch or a straight stitch if they prefer. You may need to put a piece of tape on the end of your string to make it easier to insert through the holes. Brownies should be able to sew around and tie it off by themselves. 

Have each girl write her name on her sit upon using a permanent marker, or decorate it with paint pens.


 
 

 

 

Ziplock Bag Sit Upon

 

Our troop made easy, light-weight, and comfortable(!) situpons so I couldn't resist sharing this idea with everyone. We made these as Daisies.

  • Take a gallon size Ziplock baggie and lightly fill with Styrofoam peanuts so that it lies flat, not overstuffed and round.
  • Clip the corners to let out the air so it won't pop.
  • Cover with Contact paper. (Lay the Contact paper on the ground, peel half the backing off, place bag, peel rest of backing off and flip over top, leaving a slight lip all around. Trim if needed. Younger girls may need extra hands to help them keep the Contact paper even, but we told everyone wrinkles don't matter.)
  • Punch two holes with a paper punch and add string to make it easy to wear around your neck for carrying.

Adults may need to use a plastic grocery bag to make their sit-upon a little larger. (At my parent meeting, the parents all got a chuckle out of that part.)


 

 

 

 

Blue Jean Sit-Upon


Fun to make, fun to use!

You need:

  • Old Jeans
  • Plastic Wal-Mart bags for fill

  • Something for a Belt such as Rope, Bandanas or Leather Strip (We used a Old Lace Scarf)
  • Puff paint or fabric paint

Instructions:

Cut the legs off an old pair of jeans about 1" from crotch. Trim sides and inner le

gs to shape like photo above. Turn inside-out and stitch up leg holes.  Turn right-side out. Stitch along top of waist band. Open zipper and fill with plastic Wal-Mart bags. Close zipper. The bags don’t get squished, or feel hard when compressed like newspaper does.  Plus, the girls have bags to put wet items in if they need it.  They can then use fabric paint and decorate the bottoms any way they want. Tie a long piece of cord through the belt loops and they can tie it around their waist on hikes or use it to carry the sit-upons.  Thread your "belt" through the loops. Tie in front. Feed back through the

front loops and tie at top for and handle.

 

Bucket Sit Upon

 

Here is a Sit Upon that gives all the girls a seat around the fire and helps keep the loose items like hats, water bottles, and bug spray from getting lost.


MATERIALS:

·         5 gallon new (empty) paint buckets with sturdy lids (see tips below)

  • Permanent markers or "Painters" paint markers
  • Paints and sponges, optional
  • Pliers, optional

INSTRUCTIONS:
First thing you need to do is remove the tear strip from the lid! If you can't pull it off by hand you can use the pliers to help you get a firmer grip. Let the children use markers or paint and sponges to decorate their paint buckets and label them. Give each child a list of supplies they need to bring to camp and have them bring it in their bucket.

Tips: Purchase the paint buckets through your local Home Improvement or Paint Store. Ask if they will donate them, some stores are very helpful. Note: The paint and markers being applied to a slick surface is likely to chip. If you would like to mix in equal parts of Plaid Folk Art paint with Glass & Tile medium the paint may adhere better.

Now get creative and make a vinyl-covered cushion to put on the lid. Form the vinyl over a cardboard circle, stuff, then pull tight and staple or glue and insert into center of lid. Now you have a softer seat.