Stockport Sewing Collective upcycle duvets into hospital scrubs

Sara Armstrong, area coordinator of High Lane Scrubbers, shares with us the amazing things the Stockport Sewing Collective, which the Scrubbers are part of, have been making during lockdown.


I work as a project Engagement Officer for the National Trust and am currently furloughed, so sewing has been my new ‘job’ for the past 12 weeks!

What makes Stockport Sewing Collective so unique is that we are community-based but by working as a large ‘team’ it has allowed us to provide to both individual NHS workers and hospitals across Manchester.

High Lane Scrubber Clothes Label - NHS Made with love by a High Lane Scrubber

As a team, we have been sewing scrubs since March. So far we have sewed a total of 762 sets of scrubs that have been delivered to care home, health centres and hospitals in Greater Manchester including:

  • North Manchester General
  • Salford Royal Children’s outpatients
  • Royal Manchester Children’s Hospitals Paedriatric ICU
  • Wythenshawe maternity and neonatal
  • Pennine Care Trust mental health ward at Stepping Hill
  • Offerton brain injury unit
  • Meadows Offerton

As well as scrubs, we have also made over 3,000 bags as well as gowns, hats, headbands, trousers and tunics!

All this sewing wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity from our local communities. Without the donations of fabric and materials, we could not have provided as we have for the past few months for the NHS and care providers.

Scrubs made out of duvet covers hanging on a wardrobe door

We received an array of donations such as:

  • pre-loved  kids duvets of cartoon characters and superheroes
  • new fabric bought by supporters
  • donated new fabric from companies such as Carrington’s in Adlington who gave us 100 metres  of nurse uniform fabric (slight seconds)
  • National Trust at Quarry Bank who provided fabric and tea towels made in the mill to make scrubs and scrub bags with.
  • thread, buttons, elastic, cord for waist tape and scrub bags and more!

As well as volunteer sewers, the teams are made up of family members washing and cutting the fabric ready for sewing and an incredible team of drivers who have done pickups and deliveries to ensure keyworkers can continue to be heroes.
Hospital staff wearing scrubs made out of upcycled duvets

To find out more about the Stockport Sewing Collective, visit the High Lane Scrubbers Facebook group or the Stockport Mini Hub Facebook group or email stockportscrubhub@outlook.com

If you are inspired by this, why not try making your own reusable face covering.

Recycle for Greater Manchester