Tailor / Dressmaker / Custom Sewer

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

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Alterations Expert; Alterations Sewer; Bridal Designer; Clothing Pattern Designer; Custom Dressmaker; Custom Sewer; Custom Tailor; Dressmaker; Seamstress; Tailor

Tasks

• Measure parts, such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines.
• Remove stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or razor blades.
• Sew garments, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
• Let out or take in seams in suits and other garments to improve fit.
• Measure customers, using tape measures, and record measurements.
• Fit and study garments on customers to determine required alterations.
• Trim excess material, using scissors.
• Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
• Make garment style changes, such as tapering pant legs, narrowing lapels, and adding or removing padding.
• Maintain garment drape and proportions as alterations are performed.
• Take up or let down hems to shorten or lengthen garment parts, such as sleeves.
• Repair or replace defective garment parts, such as pockets, zippers, snaps, buttons, and linings.
• Press garments, using hand irons or pressing machines.
• 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.
• Estimate how much a garment will cost to make, based on factors such as time and material requirements.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• English Language
• Production and Processing
• Administration and Management
• Economics and Accounting

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking

Abilities

• Visualization
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Finger Dexterity
• Near Vision
• Oral Comprehension
• Control Precision
• Manual Dexterity
• Oral Expression
• Originality
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity