SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

I wonder if anybody remembers women doing piece work for tailoring companies from home. I'm writing a story, set in 1966 Leeds, and want the mam in the family to work from home (because she's got a small child to look after). If my memory serves me well, there were women who sewed, say, pockets or waistbands etc for tailoring companies. My question is, did the company provide the sewing machines? Were the items delivered and collected? Any info gratefully received - even if the piece work was nothing to do with tailoring! Thanks.

My mum used to sew at home in the 1950s. If I remember correctly she did it for Alexander Rose who were on or near Camp Road. She had worked for them at the factory prior to working from home. She had her own industrial electric Singer sewing machine at home. Someone delivered a bag of bits about once a week and collected the made up items from the previous delivery. She made up collars for sure, but I think she also did a part of a waist coat and the waist band and fly for trousers.

Thank you, that's excellent. Do you know if ladies did it in the 60s?

There were lots of small tailoring businesses still operating in the 60's in LEEDS.A lot of the outsourced work providing by ladies was very skilled, and done by hand, such as button holes, hand stitched lapels and shoulder pads.    

Yes. My mother worked from home in the 60's. I think she did home work for the firm, Prices.Prices supplied the industrial sewing machine, (it was huge) and a guy called Tom delivered/collected the work.

Moodycow wrote: Thank you, that's excellent. Do you know if ladies did it in the 60s? I dont know. My mum passed away in 59

Thanks so much for all your comments, they're just what I'm looking for.

Forgot to mention my mam had previously worked for Prices before having a family. She worked there as a young girl making soldiers war uniforms.

some mills used to send out cloth from the looms to be mended at home.also guy fireworks had homeworkers sticking the labels on fireworks.(before the gunpowder was put in)

My Mum was a 'through trouser machinist' and worked at home for a company (who she had previously worked for ) whilst at home with young babies. The company provided the large industrial machine, and each week supplied bundles of units, and although Mum has Alzheimers now, so I can't ask her, I think she worked for a number of companies such as 'Bots', Skopes, and possibly Hepworths among many others. I think the piecework rate was in pence per unit.