Details for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Description
Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
Tasks
- Fit and study garments on customers to determine required alterations.
- Sew garments, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
- Measure parts, such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines.
- Take up or let down hems to shorten or lengthen garment parts, such as sleeves.
- Let out or take in seams in suits and other garments to improve fit.
- Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
- Remove stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or razor blades.
- Record required alterations and instructions on tags, and attach them to garments.
- Examine tags on garments to determine alterations that are needed.
- Fit, alter, repair, and make made-to-measure clothing, according to customers' and clothing manufacturers' specifications and fit, and applying principles of garment design, construction, and styling.
- Maintain garment drape and proportions as alterations are performed.
- Press garments, using hand irons or pressing machines.
- Trim excess material, using scissors.
- Develop, copy, or adapt designs for garments, and design patterns to fit measurements, applying knowledge of garment design, construction, styling, and fabric.
- Make garment style changes, such as tapering pant legs, narrowing lapels, and adding or removing padding.
- Measure customers, using tape measures, and record measurements.
- Estimate how much a garment will cost to make, based on factors such as time and material requirements.
- Repair or replace defective garment parts, such as pockets, zippers, snaps, buttons, and linings.
- Confer with customers to determine types of material and garment styles desired.
- Position patterns of garment parts on fabric, and cut fabric along outlines, using scissors.
- Sew buttonholes and attach buttons to finish garments.
- Put in padding and shaping materials.
Interests
- Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
- Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Education, training, experience
- Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
- Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
- Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Knowledge
- Administration and Management -Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Design -Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Skills
None found.
Related careers
