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Torsdag 12:00 - 18:00 Fredag 12:00 - 18:00 Lördag 12:00 - 16:00

Birgitta Helmersson

Hem
Sverige
Malmö
Birgitta Helmersson

Zero Waste Garments and Sewing Patterns. Based in Malmö Sweden

20/08/2026

We have some new pieces online from the beautiful natural pigments collection made in collaboration with Verónica Rendón ✨

This twin set is a whole vibe, shibori pleated and dyed naturally with indigo. We have 2 versions of the tee, #1 is all over pleated and #2 is ombré dip dyed and pleated across the shoulder.

The top is the and pant the from my book Zero Waste Patterns ✨

These pieces are online, link in bio, and also in-store The Cloth Lab open this week Thu-Sat 12:00-16:00 we only have 1-2 pieces available in each!

13/08/2026

A made this week for a customer using the last of this beautiful sheer linen gauze.

I thought I would share a little of my process with the pin tucks here for anyone that would like to give this a try ✨

Before cutting out the pattern I adjust my pieces so that they include the extra seam allowance required, so for each double row of pin tucks I have added 1cm , and I did this for both the width and length of the pattern pieces.

I always press my lines in first by folding the pieces into a little sandwich, always make sure to have the piece folded in the center first so that you get symmetrical lines. Once the lines are worked out I will repress the lines so that they are all folded the way I need to sew them, only the vertical lines first. As I’m sewing a double row of pin tucks here I will press my first center line slightly to one side.

Next I sew the pin tuck along the pressed vertical lines, sewing the second row alongside using the width of my foot as a guide for the spacing (some pressing is sometimes required between these steps if it makes it easier for you). Once all the vertical lines are sewn I press and then prepare the horizontal lines in the same way and repeat the process.

This pattern is the Zero Waste Frill Sleeve Top made with a shorter sleeve length, the pattern can be found online, as both PDF and Paper Workbook, link in bio ✨

12/08/2026

EU SHIPPING UPDATE

A little note from us on the new European PPRW packaging regulations coming into effect today, August 12th.

We will continue shipping to most EU countries.

There has been a lot of panic about this on instagram over the last few days, understandably so, but we have decided to take a deep breath and rather than cut of all shipping we will continue to monitor the situation for each country as we go.

I will not go into the details of the PPWR law here as there is plenty of information to be found elsewhere.

We will keep you updated on any changes but for the time being we still ship to:

Most EU member states
Norway
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Australia
New Zealand

28/07/2026

Our naturally dyed collection is coming together very nicely indeed….can’t wait to see all of these pieces sitting on the rack together! You’ll have to fight me for these indigo dyed zero waste pants 😅

Together with Verónica Rendón we have made a range of pieces using zero waste patterns and dyed with natural pigments including indigo, bundle dyeing and painting, so much fun to work on!

These beauties will be available within a couple weeks, in-store and online ✌️

18/07/2026

We managed to squeeze one more pin tuck top out of this beautiful sheer linen gauze, last one available online, link in bio, or in-store The Cloth Lab ✨

Next week we are working on our new natural dye / indigo collection, can’t wait!

Thanks for a great week in the store , see you next week Thu-Sat 12:00-16:00 ✨

15/07/2026

A little something I made for myself last week using fabric off-cuts and second hand materials, I loooove it! I also made one for my dear friend Edith using a mix of fabrics from her stash and mine. This one is made entirely with the 4thread overlocker with exposed seams in a contrast orange thread, similar to the Tee project in my book Sewing with Scraps.

This pattern is a new little zero waste idea I have been testing out🌻 no pattern available yet, sorry!

02/07/2026

A few of the new pieces made it online! Linens, organic cottons and vintage textiles, only 1-2 items available in each.

We sold the black linen check top and sheer pin tuck top (pic 2 and 3) but have enough fabric to make one more in each so they are also available as a pre-order item and can be made within 2-3 weeks . Link in bio✨

We are also open this week The Cloth Lab Thursday-Saturday 12:00-16:00

01/07/2026

I had a lot of fun making myself some summery pieces last week. These are the from my book Zero Waste Patterns. They are made using old jeans. I kept the edges raw and patchworked by placing each layer together flat and top stitching together with 2 rows of stitching.

I removed around 4cm from the top of the template so the waist wasn’t as high and I used a 3cm elastic to make a paper bag waist. I calculated the exact length I needed first (by trying on another pair I made a while back) and then I patch-worked 2 pieces for the front/back legs to the exact size, leaving the hem totally raw. I regret not adding side pockets as this I usually a must for me, but I may add some welt pockets into the sides at a later stage!

I have been absolutely living in these since I made them!

Worn here with the bow top hack in black organic cotton poplin, this top as well as a handful of other pieces are now available online, and in-store The Cloth Lab

30/06/2026

This morning I was reminded of a tutorial I did a while ago and I thought I would share it here again as it is such a lovely summer project!

This is a free tutorial to make the , a simple zero waste garment made entirely by hand. This is perfect for anyone that hasn’t used zero waste patterns before and wants to understand the method by using very simple shapes, but it is also a lovely project you can really take with you and do anywhere.

I made this top a few years ago while on holiday in Australia staying with my dear friend in Melbourne 💕

The key to this simple billowy shape is to use good quality fabric! I made this top during a hot summer weekend, we walked down to The Fabric Store on Brunswick Street and bought a beautiful blush coloured linen, 135cm wide. I cut the fabric on the floor with my 2yr old and my friends dog running around, it was chaotic but very fun 😆

The garment is sewn entirely by hand with felled seams and elastic is inserted into the sleeve hems.

You can find the full tutorial via link in bio, ZW TENT TOP

26/06/2026

A bit of summer sewing for you ✨

I made the from my book Zero Waste Patterns with a wide strap instead of the thin binding version.

The fabric is a beautiful vintage silky viscose tablecloth. As the piece was too narrow to make the dress I added a strip of light weight natural cotton to bring the full width out to 145cm. The first image shows the back of the dress with the panel running down the center back.

Some tips for making this yourself:
- I cut a 10cm strip from the bottom of my main fabric to use as straps (these were bagged out with a 4cm wide finished width)
- After I cut away the strip I added an extra piece of fabric to one end so that my fabric was wide enough, but instead of adding 2 pieces I added one on the fold, this means my center back dress won’t have a seam. If you do this make sure you take away 1cm from your C/B width when placing your template as you won’t have a seam here anymore.
- I used a back bind on the underarms, a type of binding finish that isn’t visible from the outside. Add 0.5cm to the front and back underarms after tracing the templates, to allow for the extra seam allowance needed.
- Cut binding 3cm wide and press in half. You won’t need any underarm tape for this version, the binding should be cut to the size the tape measurement for your chosen size and then stretch the binding on when you sew. First sew folded binding (raw edges lining up with raw edge of underarm edges) to right side body with around 6-8mm seam allowance. Then trim away the raw edges to neaten, press binding away from the body and understitch, then turn binding to the inside and top stitch all the way around.
- the straps were bagged out, I used the existing finished edge of the tablecloth at the top and added a facing on the inside made using binding pressed in 6mm top and bottom with the straps sandwiched inside. I then top stitched at the top and bottom of the bind through all layers.
- I added another back bind to the top of the back body with the ends folded neatly underneath and then simply pinned the straps in place to my preference and the top stitched in place.

Hopefully the text makes some sense with the pictures!

Adress

Storgatan 26
Malmö
21142

Öppettider

Torsdag	12:00 - 18:00
Fredag	12:00 - 18:00
Lördag	12:00 - 16:00

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