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Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Textile
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Textile investigates how natural plant and animal fibers and synthetic polymers become yarn and fabric. You will conduct burn tests to identify fiber types, explore textile weaving methods, and study commercial dyeing. Requirement 3 gives you hands-on experience by weaving a piece of cloth on a loom or spinning raw wool into yarn.
Key Requirements Covered:
- Natural vs. Synthetic Fiber Chemistry
- Weaving, Knitting & Fabric Construction
- Fabric Dyeing, Printing & Finishing
- Technical Textiles, Geotextiles & Industry
4Printable Pages
6Requirements
2004Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Textile Requirements
Every requirement for the Textile merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1Fiber, Fabric, and Textile
Discuss with your counselor the importance of textiles. Explain the terms fiber, fabric, and textile. Give examples of textiles you use every day.
2Natural and Manufactured Fabrics
Do the following:
- a Get swatches of two natural fiber fabrics (100 percent cotton, linen, wool or silk; no blends). Get swatches of two synthetic fiber fabrics (nylon, polyester, acrylic, olefin, or spandex). Get a sample of one cellulosic fabric (rayon, acetate or lyocell).
- b Give the origin, major characteristics, and general content of each type of fiber obtained for 2(a). Explain the difference between a cellulosic manufactured fiber and a synthetic manufactured fiber.
- c Describe the main steps in making raw fiber into yarn, and yarn into fabric.
- d Assume you will soon buy a new garment or other textile item. Tell your counselor what fiber or blend of fibers you want the item to be, and give reasons for your choice.
3Hands-On Textile Work
Do TWO of the following:
- a Visit a textile plant, textile products manufacturer, or textile school or college. Report on what you saw and learned.
- b Weave a belt, headband, placemat, or wall hanging using a simple loom that you have made yourself.
- c With a magnifying glass, examine a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, and a knitted fabric. Sketch what you see. Explain how the three constructions are different.
- d Make a piece of felt.
- e Make two natural dyes and use them to dye a garment or a piece of fabric.
- f Waterproof a fabric.
- g Demonstrate how to identify fibers, using microscope identification or the breaking test.
4Textile Terms
Explain the meaning of 10 of the following terms: warp, harness, heddle, shed, aramid, spandex, sliver, yarn, spindle, distaff, loom, cellulose, sericulture, extrusion, carbon fibers, spinneret, staple, worsted, nonwoven, and greige goods.
5Advantages of Different Fibers
List the advantages and disadvantages of natural plant fibers, natural animal fibers, cellulosic manufactured fibers, and synthetic manufactured fibers. Identify and discuss at least four ecological concerns regarding the production and care of textiles.
6Careers
Explain to your counselor, either verbally or in a written report, five career possibilities in the textile industry. Tell your counselor about two positions that interest you the most and the education, cost of training, and specific duties those positions require.
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Textile requirements in 2004. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
Verbatim Fidelity & Verification
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/textile/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
Spotted a discrepancy on this sheet? Tell us and we will re-check it against the official requirements.
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