Description
Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
- • Fit and study garments on customers to determine required alterations.
- • Sew garments, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
- • Measure parts, such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines.
- • Take up or let down hems to shorten or lengthen garment parts, such as sleeves.
- • Let out or take in seams in suits and other garments to improve fit.
- • Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
- • Remove stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or razor blades.
- • Record required alterations and instructions on tags, and attach them to garments.
- • Examine tags on garments to determine alterations that are needed.
- • 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.
- • Maintain garment drape and proportions as alterations are performed.
- • Press garments, using hand irons or pressing machines.
- • Trim excess material, using scissors.
- • Develop, copy, or adapt designs for garments, and design patterns to fit measurements, applying knowledge of garment design, construction, styling, and fabric.
- • Make garment style changes, such as tapering pant legs, narrowing lapels, and adding or removing padding.
- • Measure customers, using tape measures, and record measurements.
- • Estimate how much a garment will cost to make, based on factors such as time and material requirements.
- • Repair or replace defective garment parts, such as pockets, zippers, snaps, buttons, and linings.
- • Confer with customers to determine types of material and garment styles desired.
- • Position patterns of garment parts on fabric, and cut fabric along outlines, using scissors.
- • Sew buttonholes and attach buttons to finish garments.
- • Put in padding and shaping materials.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
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
