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Sewing Machine Operators Occupation Detailed Description

Sewing Machine Operators career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Sewing Machine Operators

The main tasks and work activities of Sewing Machine Operators are to watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions, mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment, load materials into production equipment, feed materials or products into or through equipment. In general, for the Sewing Machine Operators, monitoring and other -2 skills are required.
Sewing Machine Operators Job Description
EducationSome of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Related ExperienceLittle or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
ExampleThese occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, sewing machine operators, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Sewing Machine Operators jobs. 41.37% of Sewing Machine Operators have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 0.72% of Sewing Machine Operators have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
52.93%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
41.37%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.72%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
4.97%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.01%

Tasks and Work Activities of Sewing Machine Operators

  • 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.
  • Cut excess material or thread from finished products.
  • Fold or stretch edges or lengths of items while sewing to facilitate forming specified sections.
  • Perform equipment maintenance tasks such as replacing needles, sanding rough areas of needles, or cleaning and oiling sewing machines.
  • Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using rulers.
  • Turn knobs, screws, and dials to adjust settings of machines, according to garment styles and equipment performance.
  • Repair or alter items by adding replacement parts or missing stitches.
  • Cut materials according to specifications, using blades, scissors, or electric knives.
  • Remove holding devices and finished items from machines.
  • Position and mark patterns on materials to prepare for sewing.
  • Position material or articles in clamps, templates, or hoop frames prior to automatic operation of machines.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Training and Teaching OthersIdentifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
  • Load materials into production equipment.
  • Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
  • Compare physical characteristics of materials or products to specifications or standards.
  • Maneuver workpieces in equipment during production.
  • Operate sewing equipment.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Inspect garments for defects, damage, or stains.
  • Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
  • Select production input materials.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.
  • Adjust fabrics or other materials during garment production.
  • Replace worn equipment components.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Repair textiles or apparel.
  • Cut fabrics.

Skills and Abilities for Sewing Machine Operators

  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Rate ControlThe ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Bodkine.g. Ball point bodkins
  • Bobbins or bobbin holderse.g. Bobbins
  • Buttonhole machinese.g. Buttonhole makers
  • Domestic clothing ironse.g. Clothes pressing irons
  • Pattern cutting mats or boardse.g. Cutting pads
  • Sewing machinese.g. Double needle sewing machines
  • Needle threadere.g. Drawstring threaders
  • Sewing machinese.g. Flatbed felling machines
  • Sewing machinese.g. Fur sewing machines
  • Hand sandere.g. Hand sanding blocks
  • Embroidery hoopse.g. Hoop frames
  • Tape measurese.g. Measuring tapes
  • Sewing machinese.g. Multi-needle sewing machines
  • Sewing patternse.g. Pattern plates
  • Rotary paper or fabric cuttere.g. Portable electric fabric cutters
  • Sewing machinese.g. Programmable sewing machines
  • Rulerse.g. Quilting rulers
  • Rotary paper or fabric cuttere.g. Rotary fabric cutters
  • Shearse.g. Scissors
  • Seam rippere.g. Seam rippers