Hand sewers sew join, reinforce, or finish, usually with needle and thread, a variety of manufactured items. Includes weavers and stitchers.

  • Sew, join, reinforce, or finish parts of articles, such as garments, books, mattresses, toys, and wigs, using needles and thread or other materials.
  • Trim excess threads or edges of parts, using scissors or knives.
  • Select thread, twine, cord, or yarn to be used, and thread needles.
  • Draw and cut patterns according to specifications.
  • Fold, twist, stretch, or drape material, and secure articles in preparation for sewing.
  • Smooth seams with heated irons, flat bones, or rubbing sticks.
  • Measure and align parts, fasteners, or trimmings, following seams, edges, or markings on parts.
  • Use different sewing techniques such as felling, tacking, basting, embroidery, and fagoting.
  • Sew buttonholes, or add lace or other trimming.
  • Wax thread by drawing it through a ball of wax.
  • Tie, knit, weave or knot ribbon, yarn, or decorative materials.
  • Soften leather or shoe material with water to prepare it for sewing.
  • Attach trimmings and labels to articles with cement, using brushes or cement guns.
Work Context

Work Context information for this career will be available soon.

Work Activities
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Sew clothing or other articles.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.
  • Select production input materials.
  • Design templates or patterns.
  • Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
  • Adjust fabrics or other materials during garment production.
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Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Design
  • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Sales and Marketing
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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Skills

Judgment and Decision Making
  • Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities

Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Manual Dexterity
  • The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Finger Dexterity
  • The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Computer aided design CAD software
  • Template design software Hot Technology
  • Embroidery design software Hot Technology
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
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