15 Projects to Sew a Sustainable Wardrobe Using Leftover Fabric

Sewing with Scraps by Birgitta Helmersson and Sam Grose is a garment sewing book built around three methods for working with leftover and scrap fabric: patchwork, strips, and collage. The book opens with a thorough introduction to each method before moving into 15 projects — garments and accessories sized UK 6–30, including a workwear jacket, patchwork tee, quilted coat, and tote bag.

Three unisex PDF patterns are included with the book. Projects can be made using the provided patterns or adapted to work with your own existing patterns and the methods taught.

Helmersson and Grose run The Cloth Lab, a creative studio focused on upcycling, repurposing, and zero-waste techniques, and the book reflects that practice directly — it’s a working approach to scrap use rather than a theoretical one.