According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions. | 87% |
| Cut materials according to specifications, using blades, scissors, or electric knives. | 87% |
| Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components. | 86% |
| Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides. | 86% |
| Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together. | 85% |
| Remove holding devices and finished items from machines. | 83% |
| Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match. | 83% |
| Fold or stretch edges or lengths of items while sewing to facilitate forming specified sections. | 83% |
| Cut excess material or thread from finished products. | 83% |
| Select supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements. | 82% |
| Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using rulers. | 82% |
| 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. | 81% |
| Inspect garments, and examine repair tags and markings on garments to locate defects or damage, and mark errors as necessary. | 81% |
| Record quantities of materials processed. | 80% |
| Turn knobs, screws, and dials to adjust settings of machines, according to garment styles and equipment performance. | 80% |
| Attach buttons, hooks, zippers, fasteners, or other accessories to fabric, using feeding hoppers or clamp holders. | 80% |
| Attach tape, trim, appliques, or elastic to specified garments or garment parts, according to item specifications. | 79% |
| Repair or alter items by adding replacement parts or missing stitches. | 79% |
| Position material or articles in clamps, templates, or hoop frames prior to automatic operation of machines. | 78% |
| Perform equipment maintenance tasks such as replacing needles, sanding rough areas of needles, or cleaning and oiling sewing machines. | 77% |
| Draw markings or pin appliques on fabric to obtain variations in design. | 76% |
| Tape or twist together thread or cord to repair breaks. | 75% |
| Baste edges of material to align and temporarily secure parts for final assembly. | 74% |
| Position and mark patterns on materials to prepare for sewing. | 74% |
| Mount attachments, such as needles, cutting blades, or pattern plates, and adjust machine guides according to specifications. | 74% |
| Perform specialized or automatic sewing machine functions, such as buttonhole making or tacking. | 73% |
