Is there any point in trying to sew more sustainably for kids when they’re just going to grow out of their clothes in five minutes? Of course there is! And there are a TON of ways to do it. From pattern and fabric selection, to ensuring durability and repairability, in this solo episode we cover ways to create clothes that the kids you’re sewing for will love to wear, for as long as possible.
Support the podcast over on Patreon!
Check out related episodes:
Ep. #11: Sewing Vs Kids
Ep. #33: Encouraging Kids to Sew
Ep. #75: Go Recreate with Linnea Larsson
Ep. #122: Zero Waste Sewing for Kids with Liz Elliot
Apple Tree Pattern Co. has a ton of ‘Grow With Me’ styles, including this cool Dolman hoodie pattern:
Check out the ‘outgrown’ extend system by Columbia clothing company:
Buttonhole elastic is great for making adjustable waistbands:
My son’s ‘Pig from Bunny Vs Monkey’ World Book Day costume with leggings that he now uses as PJ bottoms:
The ‘Looshkin’ costume that became a regular sweatshirt when the white tummy was removed:
No shame in buying a ready made patch to make a garment more wearable to a child!
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#205: Selling Fabric More Sustainably with Tanya Brooman
Does shopping for natural fibres and more sustainable fabrics mean that you’re limited to solid colours in muted tones? Do you have to ignore your love of vibrant colour and bold prints? My guest today would answer “NO!” to both these questions. Tanya Brooman from Bornella Fabrics tells me about the sustainability ethos that underpins her fabric business, and what most frustrates her about the fabric industry today.
Support the podcast over on Patreon!
Tanya Brooman is the owner of Bornella Fabrics. You can also follow them on Instagram @bornellafabrics.
Tanya appeared in the previous episodes:
Ep. #110: Knitting & Stitching Show 2023
Ep. #144: London Destash Fabric Swap 2024
Ep. #202: London Fabric Swap 2025
Tanya has a useful webpage on ‘Sustainable Fabric Lowdown’.
If developments in fabric production interest you, check out this episode:
Ep. #50: The Future of Fabrics
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#204: The Sewing Machine, A Novel – Kat Camfield with Natalie Fergie
Guest interviewer, Kat Camfield, is talking to author Natalie Fergie about Natalie’s incredible historical novel, The Sewing Machine. Based on real, historical events that took place at the Singer Sewing Machine factory in Scotland, the novel follows two families: one belonging to a worker at the factory who went on strike, the other belonging to the owner of one of the sewing machines that the striker helped make. If you’re interested in sewing as a lens through which to look at social history, then you’re going to find this conversation fascinating. Natalie and Kat also geek out over vintage sewing machines and their sizable collections!
Support the podcast over on Patreon!
Kat Camfield is a sewing teacher and sewing retreat organiser living in Victoria, Canada. You can follow Kat on Instagram @cooperativekatsews.
Hear Kat on previous episodes of CYT:
Ep. #196: Eco Printing - Kat Camfield with Carly from Lorelei Textile Design
Ep. #200: Making Check Your Thread - with Zoe & Kat, Part 1
Ep. #201: Making Check Your Thread - with Zoe & Kat, Part 2
Learn more about author Natalie Fergie and her books: The Sewing Machine and 25 Library Terrace:
Watch the silent film ‘Birth of a Sewing Machine’ from 1934.
Look up the model and age of vintage sewing machines via the International Sewing Machine Collectors’ Society website.
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#203: Sewing with Scraps with Birgitta Helmersson & Sam Grose
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.
Support the podcast over on Patreon!
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
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#202: London Fabric Swap 2025
Do you fancy coming with me on a little vicarious trip to a fabric swap? A couple of weeks ago I attended the London fabric swap organised by Yvette from Stash Hub app and Tanya from Bornella fabrics. I recorded a bunch of little conversations with both of them and lots of the attendees, so you can get the skinny on what it was like to organise the event and to attend and swap sewing supplies there.
Support the podcast over on Patreon!
Organised by Tanya from Bornella Fabrics and Yvette from Stash Hub App:
Listen to previous episodes about fabric swaps:
Ep. #144: London Destash Fabric Swap 2024
Ep. #182: How to Organise a Fabric Swap with Nike Baruwa
Here my previous conversation with attendee Mel Keane:
Ep. #152: Sewing for Stillness and Community with Mel Keane
The fabric swap organised by Surrey Sews (@surreysews on Instagram) is taking place on 8th November.
- Do you love sewing, AND are passionate about fighting the climate and ecological crises?
- Are you wondering if your sewing could be made more sustainable?
- Do you want to enjoy your creative passion in a way that really reflects your values?
Join Zoe Edwards, a sewing nerd and creator of Me-Made-May, on her journey to explore how to sew (and live!) more sustainably.
In this podcast we discover ways to sew with sustainability in mind, by flexing our creativity and resourcefulness in new and exciting ways. Check Your Thread’s goal is to show that sewing more sustainably can be fun and fulfilling, (HOLD the side order of guilt, eco-snobbery and FOMO.)
Topics covered include:
-Mending and garment repair
-Upcycling and refashioning
-Natural fabric dyeing
-Fibre and fabric selection
-Slow stitching
-Zero Waste sewing patterns
-The social and political dimensions of sewing
-Craft as activism
Find out more...
checkyourthread.com
Listen to Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably, The Simpler Life? with James & William and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
Ireland