With two preschoolers on hand, Lucy Byford says she had been looking unsuccessfully for a job with flexible hours after they went to daycare.
A friend who is into flooring suggested she try carpet ‘overlocking’, and being keen on sewing she bought a second-hand machine and taught herself.
And, to the dismay of her partner who’d set up the garage for his own use, she took that over as she needed a lot of room.
Byford says the majority of her work is making items from left-over carpet from building and renovation jobs.
"I’ll turn them into whatever anyone wants."
Fireplace rugs were popular over winter, but she’s also made children’s play mats, including one for Wakatipu Playcentre.
People also order mats to cover carpet by sliding doors that’s fading due to the sun, extending its life, too.
Also popular are entranceway runners — sometimes up to five metres long.
Byford says carpet shops also supply her with off-cuts.
"If someone has an idea of something they want made, they can come to me and I can make it up with the carpet I’ve got."
A recent commission was making a tartan carpet for the stairwell in Queenstown’s Walter’s Tavern, formerly Pig & Whistle Pub — "there was a join in it which was quite tricky".
Having started in business just over a year ago, Byford also occasionally runs a stall at Frankton’s Remarkables Market.
Her website is matsrugsandrunners.co.nz
