Description
Cut and trim fabric and other textile materials for apparel, upholstery, and related products using hand tools and hand-held or table-mounted cutters; read markers and work orders, lay out and inspect fabric, and maximize yield while meeting quality and safety standards.
- • Read work orders and markers to determine sizes, pattern pieces, cut locations, and quantities.
- • Unroll and spread single or multiple plies of fabric on cutting tables, aligning grain, nap, and patterns.
- • Inspect fabric for defects such as stains, holes, runs, shading, or skew; mark or reject flawed areas.
- • Position markers, templates, or patterns to obtain maximum yield and match plaids or prints.
- • Mark cutting lines, notches, and drill points using chalk, pencils, rules, and straightedges.
- • Cut and trim fabric using scissors, rotary cutters, straight knives, band knives, or die cutters.
- • Operate or lower table-mounted cutters and cutting wheels to cut lays to specified sizes.
- • Adjust guides, stops, cutting depth, and blade speed to control cut width and quality.
- • Notch, drill, or punch reference marks for sewing and assembly as specified.
- • Separate and bundle cut parts by size, style, color, lot, or job ticket.
- • Count, weigh, and tag bundles; mark identification numbers, sizes, and piece counts.
- • Stack and load cut goods on racks or carts and transport to sewing or storage areas.
- • Trim loose threads and remove excess material to improve finish and fit.
- • Fold, roll, or cover materials before or after cutting to prevent damage or shifting.
- • Maintain and replace blades; sharpen knives and change rotary cutter wheels as needed.
- • Clean cutting tables, tools, and work areas; remove lint and fabric debris safely.
- • Verify cut dimensions against patterns; record production and quality data.
- • Follow safety procedures and use guards and PPE when handling cutting equipment.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Advanced Manufacturing
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
