Description
Hand sew, join, reinforce, and finish footwear components, stitching leather or fabric uppers, welts, and soles using needles, awls, and waxed thread; perform closing, hand-welting, and decorative stitching to meet specifications.
- • Hand stitch shoe uppers, linings, facings, and seams using needles, awls, and waxed thread.
- • Sew welts and rands, joining uppers to insoles in preparation for outsole attachment.
- • Stitch outsoles to welts or midsoles by hand where specified.
- • Trim and skive leather edges and remove excess threads with knives or scissors.
- • Select and prepare thread, cord, or waxed linen; thread needles or bristles.
- • Trace and cut upper and lining pieces according to patterns and specifications.
- • Mark, measure, and align stitching lines on vamps, quarters, and counters using lasts and guides.
- • Fold, stretch, and drape uppers over lasts, securing components for hand sewing.
- • Flatten, crease, and finish seams with hammers, bone folders, or burnishers.
- • Install and reinforce eyelets, straps, tongues, and elastic gores; add decorative topstitching or piping.
- • Tie off, wax, and finish stitches; check fit and alignment on the last and make minor alterations.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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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
