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Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers - 51-6052.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Alterations Expert
  • Alterations Sewer
  • Bridal Designer
  • Clothing Pattern Designer
  • Custom Dressmaker
  • Custom Sewer
  • Custom Tailor
  • Dressmaker
  • Seamstress
  • Tailor

SOC Occupation Groups

51-0000 Production Occupations
51-6000 Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers
51-6050 Tailors, Dressmakers, and Sewers
51-6052.00 Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
  • Confer with customers to determine types of material and garment styles desired.
  • Develop, copy, or adapt designs for garments, and design patterns to fit measurements, applying knowledge of garment design, construction, styling, and fabric.
  • Estimate how much a garment will cost to make, based on factors such as time and material requirements.
  • Examine tags on garments to determine alterations that are needed.
  • Fit and study garments on customers to determine required alterations.
  • 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.
  • Let out or take in seams in suits and other garments to improve fit.
  • Maintain garment drape and proportions as alterations are performed.
  • Make garment style changes, such as tapering pant legs, narrowing lapels, and adding or removing padding.
  • Measure customers, using tape measures, and record measurements.
  • Measure parts, such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines.
  • Position patterns of garment parts on fabric, and cut fabric along outlines, using scissors.
  • Press garments, using hand irons or pressing machines.
  • Put in padding and shaping materials.
  • Record required alterations and instructions on tags, and attach them to garments.
  • Remove stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or razor blades.
  • Repair or replace defective garment parts, such as pockets, zippers, snaps, buttons, and linings.
  • Sew buttonholes and attach buttons to finish garments.
  • Sew garments, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
  • Take up or let down hems to shorten or lengthen garment parts, such as sleeves.
  • Trim excess material, using scissors.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Adjust fabrics or other materials during garment production.
  • Confer with customers or designers to determine order specifications.
  • Cut fabrics.
  • Design templates or patterns.
  • Estimate costs of products, services, or materials.
  • Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
  • Measure clients to ensure proper product fit.
  • Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
  • Operate sewing equipment.
  • Position patterns on equipment, materials, or workpieces.
  • Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Repair textiles or apparel.
  • Sew clothing or other articles.
  • Smooth garments with irons, presses, or steamers.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Aircrew Survival Equipmentman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Life Support Systems Intermediate Level Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Life Support Systems Organizational Level Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Survival Technician (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Special Operations Parachute Rigger (Navy - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Alteration Tailor
  • Custom Tailor (Garment)
  • Dressmaker
  • Furrier
  • Sample Stitcher (Garment)
  • Shop Tailor

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Alteration Tailor
  • Corset Fitter
  • Custom Tailor
  • Dressmaker
  • Furrier
  • Garment Fitter
  • Hat Trimmer
  • Sample Stitcher
  • Shop Tailor
  • Shop Tailor Apprentice
  • Tailor Apprentice, Alteration
  • Tailor Apprentice, Custom
  • Wardrobe-Specialty Worker