- Featured in:
Looking for cover letter ideas? See our sample Seamstress Cover Letter.
Find out what is the best resume for you in our Ultimate Resume Format Guide.
Additional Production Resume Samples
Seamstress Resume Samples
No results found
10+ years of experience
Sewed material to create high quality men’s suits. Responsible for adhering to all required expectations and quality control.
- Consistently exceeded the daily quota of required quantity per position
- Recognized for perfect attendance throughout 15 years of employment
- Developed solid collaborative relationship with co-workers and supervisors, including other departments
6-10 years of experience
- Constructed and styled garment by hand and sewing machines. Altered clothing to fit individual customers and repaired defective garments.
- Constructed and styled dress for bridesmaids with all kinds of fabrics.
- Designed and made woman’s, children’s and men’s clothing along with all accessories.
6-10 years of experience
Draft apparel design
- Produce custom design and sewing
- Alter denim jeans using special techniques to retain original hemlines
- Perform various types of alterations and repairs, but not limited to jackets, pants, tops
- Detailed knowledge of garment construction
- Sourcing fabric
0-5 years of experience
Constructing 18th century period garments that are sold throughout [company name]
- Use of industrial machines and sergers, gravity irons, and rotary cutters and hand sewing
- Modifying patterns for resizing, or for new garments
- Cutting fabric using patterns or provided measurements
- Transporting bolts of fabric 50+ lbs
- Train new hires in garment construction, packaging and processing
- Maintain, receive and ship out inventory
- Delegated projects and tasks
- Maintained weekly progress and timing paperwork
- Key Holder
- Basic office tasks (computer work, answering phones ect.)
0-5 years of experience
- Perform appropriate sewing operations to produce specific casket interiors.
- Quality control of fabric and cardboard components.
- Use of industrial sewing machines, shirring machines, serger and fabric cutting saw.
0-5 years of experience
Consult with clients on specific needs
- Meet with clients for fitting and adjustments of clothing
- Finish Clothing by customers specified deadline
- Reply and answer emails, phone calls, and text messages from clients in timely manner
10+ years of experience
- Sewed toes into panty hose and inspected work quality of others
- Inspected quality of work
- Counted out product to be placed into bundles
- Helped out in other departments as needed
- Worked in shipping area applying labels
- Kept records of performance
- Very efficient in production work
- Adjusted well to changes in styles and fabric
6-10 years of experience
- Embroidery machine operator
- Sewing, alterations & pressing
- Assists in trophy department
- Assists in pulling customer orders
6-10 years of experience
- Couture detailing
- Hand sewing
- Bead work
- Sewing with various materials
- Oversee day to day operations
Seamstress Duties and Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities required of a seamstress vary by employer, but there are some common tasks the vast majority of seamstresses carry out. In general, they’re expected to do the following:
Fit, Repair, and Alter Clothing It is the job of the seamstress to take a customer’s measurements to fit, repair, or alter clothing to their specifications. While doing this, the seamstress must pay close attention to the type of fabric and the general construction of the garment they are working on.
Construct Garments Many seamstresses are responsible for constructing garments to the customer’s specifications. They must first estimate how much time and effort is needed to create the garment, and once this is done, they determine how much to charge.
Measure Customers Before any alterations can be made, seamstresses must carefully measure their customers. To do this, they use tape measures and other tools to ensure their measurements are correct. They may measure the width of a person’s chest, hips, and waist, as well as the length of their inseam.
Advise Customers There are numerous types of fabrics and patterns in the world, and fortunately, seamstresses have in-depth knowledge of many of them. When a customer needs an alteration or a garment, the seamstress shares this knowledge to help clients better understand their own needs.
Maintain Sewing Equipment Seamstresses use a variety of sewing machines and other items to perform their job. If these machines do not work properly, they have no way of making alterations. For this reason, seamstresses must perform routine maintenance on their sewing machines.
Seamstress Skills and Qualifications
The skills needed to become a seamstress vary by company and location. In general, strong sewing skills and a vivid imagination are required. Prospective seamstresses do not need a college degree to enter the field, but employers do look for individuals with the following abilities and qualifications:
- Sewing – as previously mentioned, seamstresses must possess exceptional sewing skills if they wish to succeed. These skills can be self-taught or learned in a course
- Design and fashion knowledge – seamstresses should have a basic understanding of design and fashion principles. They must know how to choose fabrics, accessories, and patterns
- Basic math skills – to work as a seamstress, individuals must know how to accurately measure, add, and subtract
- Creativity – seamstresses often advise customers about fabrics and patterns, and they must have the ability to visualize how a garment will look before it is finished. They must also be capable of choosing the appropriate garment parts
- Interpersonal skills – seamstresses often work one-on-one with their clients, so they must have excellent written and verbal communication skills. They must also be capable of communicating effectively with coworkers and superiors
Seamstress Education and Training
The majority of have at least a high school diploma or GED, but a select few do not. To further their careers and improve their skills, some seamstresses take courses in fashion design or dressmaking, but even this is not a requirement. A significant number of seamstresses are self-taught, but in modern times, many enroll in apprenticeships to gain the knowledge and skills they need to work in the industry. These individuals work directly with more experienced seamstresses, who share their knowledge with them. Some on-the-job training may be offered to new seamstresses with little to no experience.
Seamstress Salary and Outlook
For many individuals, it can be difficult to make a living solely as a seamstress. According to Glassdoor, the annual median income for a seamstress is $23,540. Seamstresses in the top 10th percentile earn more than $31,000 annually, while those in the bottom 10th percentile earn less than $18,000. Those who work in the fashion design industry earn the highest salaries and are most likely to receive benefits such as health insurance and paid vacation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment rate for seamstresses is expected to increase by 7.5 percent through 2026. This is only slightly higher than the national average of 7 percent for all professions. This modest increase is attributed to the outsourcing of seamstress jobs by many clothing manufacturers and designers.
Helpful Resources
Would you like to earn a living as a seamstress? Take a look at the following career resources to learn more about the field:
Association of Sewing and Design Professionals – as its name suggests, ASDP was established with sewing and design professionals in mind. The organization provides a variety of educational resources to its members, and there are local chapters across the United States and Canada
The Savvy Seamstress: An Illustrated Guide to Customizing Your Favorite Patterns – anyone interested in working as a seamstress should give this book a look. Concise and packed with countless helpful illustrations, The Savvy Seamstress shows readers how to transform even the dullest garment patterns into beautiful custom creations. It caters to readers with both basic and advanced sewing skills
The Sewing Machine Accessory Bible – the result of a partnership between Wendy Gardiner and Lorna Knight, The Sewing Machine Accessory Bible teaches readers how to get the most out of their sewing machines. It provides an in-depth overview of feet attachments and an easy-to-read guide that helps seamstresses choose the right thread, needle, and fabric every time