For all enquiries Call 01706 816274
In celebration of National Sewing Machine Day, we’re shining a spotlight on our incredible machinists – Annette, Gayle, Julie, Louise, and Rosa!
At Safespaces, every product is handmade by our skilled manufacturing team in West Yorkshire.
From designing a unique pattern to cutting, sewing and assembling, each item is created with care and precision.
Let’s meet the team…
Annette’s passion for sewing began when she was young, when her father taught her to sew. Annette’s father had first learnt to sew in the RAF, when he would sew buttons back on his uniform, and once home he bought a singer wind up sewing machine, which is where Anette first learned to sew.
Along with this experience at home, Annette also learnt sewing at school, along with metal and woodwork. When finishing school Annette spent 10 years working in a residential care home climbing the ranks, and then went back to sewing which is where Annette’s story at Safespaces began!
Over the years, the biggest differences Annette has noticed in sewing equipment has been the technological advancements, along with the increase in variety.
If Annette was to have pursued a different career, she would like to have been a nurse, although her father wanted her to be a RAF PE teacher. However Annette’s dream job would have been a horse riding instructor!
Whilst we always say Safespaces is like one big family, for two of our sewers its even more so. Louise and Rosa have known each other since children, sharing street names, schools and jobs, the two of them have worked together for 45 years, and have worked at 7 different places together!
When finishing school, the two of them went their separate ways but is wasn’t long before the two of them were back together working in a factory. Between the two of them they have sewn trousers to bedding, furniture to juggling balls and now our Safespace products.
One thing that has changed has been the ending of piece work, which was done by companies to increase the amount of work. Rosa and Louise say times are much better now without it.
If the two of them were to have done anything different, Louise would have like to have been a carer for those with complex needs, and Rosa would have liked to do interior design.
Gayle started out working as an office junior at a solicitors office for 2 years, and found she wanted something more active and something that had a potential to be different everyday. From being a care assistant to working in a kitchen at a care facility, she was finally introduced to sewing by her partners mother, who got her a job as a sewing trainee.
Since then Gayle has worked in the sewing industry for 32 years at various companies and has sewn 3 piece suites, train seat covers, bedding and now for the last 6 years, our Safespace products, which she enjoys due to our ability to make each product unique.
One thing that has changed is the absence of knee lifts on sewing machines, it was common practice in the sewing community to make knee pads to prevent bruising on your knees!
Whilst Gayle loves to sew, in another lifetime Gayle would have loved to have trained to be a midwife.
Julie went into sewing as soon as she finished school, and started as a trainee, sewing operation gowns and shrouds for coffins. Sewing is something Julie took to straight away, 20 years she went into a care role to try something new.
At first she worked as a Senior outreach officer in the community helping those with complex needs, and after that she worked at a dementia facility helping patients.
During her time as a sewing machinist, she met Annette at previous employment, and it wasn’t until Annette’s time at Safespaces started that she reached out and asked if Julie would like to work at Safespaces and once again take up a sewing machinist position, which is where Julie has been for 9 years!
Whilst Julie enjoyed her time in the care sector, her true passion has always been sewing, and it has always been something she has loved.
