About Rita Royd, England

How it all began...

My love of fabric began when I was a young girl. I spent hours of my time making garments for my dolls. My mother would buy me small pieces of material from the local market remnants stall, costing a few pence. I would then set to work by hand, making garments. I would have the best-dressed dolls in town!

Upon leaving school I began my professional career in sewing, starting on an overlocker and later moving onto flat sewing, working on a variety of clothing for Marks & Spencers.

Later when I married and we had children I was able to make the more expensive of outerwear garments such as coats, anoraks and trousers. I made all my own dresses, skirts and blouses. By this time I had electric sewing machines that made life a lot easier.

After my brother opened up his factory making Chesterfields, I was asked to help out and so began a career change to upholstery and heavy sewing, which required a walking foot machine.

Sewing has always been a labour of love and now my children have all grown, I have moved onto making cushions, shopping bags and bean-filled footstools and pouffes.

I am in my element every time I produce one of my creations. The best feeling of all is when I sell one. There is no nicer feeling.

A big thank you to everyone who has purchased one of my many creations.

Rita