As a garment sewer conscious of waste, you know how quickly fabric scraps leftover from your projects can build up. But imagine you run an entire clothing brand range committed to saving and using up every piece of scrap. Designers Birgitta Helmersson and Sam Grose tell me about their brand, Helgrose, that operates in precisely this way. Plus, they’ve just written an awesome new book that shares the main three methods they use for turning fabric scraps into desirable, wearable pieces, so you can do the same at home. 

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Birgitta Helmersson and Sam Grose design and make clothing and accessories for their joint brand, Helgrose.

Birgitta is, of course, best known in the sewing community for her Zero Waste sewing patterns. 

Listen to Birgitta’s previous episodes:

• Ep. #54: A Journey to Zero Waste with Birgitta Helmersson





• Ep. #55: The Challenges of Zero Waste Design with Birgitta Helmersson





• Ep. #98: Zero Waste Patterns Book with Birgitta Helmersson

Birgitta and Sam have written a new book, ‘Sewing with Scraps’, buy it online here. 

This is Birgitta’s second book, her first is ‘Zero Waste Patterns’. 

Zero Waste pattern designer, Liz Haywood, has an excellent blog where she often reviews ZW sewing patterns created by other designers. 

Check out the amazing sofa they recovered using fabric scraps:

The Cloth Lab is Birgitta and Sam’s creative hub where they host workshops. 

As well as Liz Haywood, Birgitta is also a fan of ZW clothing design company, Decode. 

Birgitta and Sam love both Sway based in LA (including their community dye bath)

Studio 234+ in Malmö.

Other CYT episodes about scraps:

• Ep. #4: My 5 Favourite Scrap Projects 





• Ep. #103: Swimming in a Sea of Scraps with Meg Grandstaff





• Ep. #116: Improv Scrap Play with Sherri Lynn Wood





• Ep. #127: Scrap Strategies, Part 1





• Ep. #128: Scrap Strategies, Part 2