Sewing Machine Operators
Also called Sample Maker, Seamstress, Sewer, or Sewing Machine Operator
What Sewing Machine Operators do
Sewing Machine Operators operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
Who tends to enjoy it
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Creative
People who like making things, design, writing, music, and self-expression.
What you'd actually do
- Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.
- Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components.
- Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides.
- Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together.
- Remove holding devices and finished items from machines.
- Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match.
- Fold or stretch edges or lengths of items while sewing to facilitate forming specified sections.
- Cut excess material or thread from finished products.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Operations Monitoring
- Quality Control Analysis
What you'll need to know
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
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Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 51-6031.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.