National

Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.

Sample of reported job titles: Sewing Machine Operator, Sample Maker, Sewer, Seamstress, Line Closer, Bartacker, Computer Stitcher, Cord Sewer, Overcaster, Peak Maker

Tasks

• Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.
• Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides.
• Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components.
• Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match.
• Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together.
• Start and operate or tend machines, such as single or double needle serging and flat-bed felling machines, to automatically join, reinforce, or decorate material or articles.
• Record quantities of materials processed.
• Inspect garments, and examine repair tags and markings on garments to locate defects or damage, and mark errors as necessary.
• Select supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements.
• Mount attachments, such as needles, cutting blades, or pattern plates, and adjust machine guides according to specifications.