Sewing Machinist Further Information
06-07-2011
SEWING MACHINIST
Job Description
As a sewing machinist, you could be decorating clothing, draperies, linens, mattresses and upholstery, as well as carpets and rugs. Most machinists work in large production and manufacturing plants, and operate industrial or commercial sewing machines. There are a small number of people who do complete these tasks themselves, but it is not as common. A sewing machinist is expected to produce sewn, finished articles by following patterns and instructions. The patterns and instructions are liable to change with each project, so you may not always be producing the same products. If you work for a large company you may be expected to sit for long hours, in a building that houses hundreds of sewing machines and machine operators. As a machinist you will generally be required to wear casual work clothes along with protective eye and ear equipment provided by your employer.
Typical Duties
- Accurately producing finished products by following a pattern or instruction
- Maintain an inventory of materials, tools and supplies
- Resolve problems and imperfections
- Keep a record of defective materials and finished products
- Package products for shipping or inspection
Skills and Interests
- Be able to work with patterns
- Show an interest in the production of textiles
- Good organisational skills
- The ability to operate a sewing machine
- Competent in fixing problems, relating to machinery and stitching
- Be good at working under pressure
- Manual dexterity is needed to process materials through the sewing machine
- Have the ability to work to deadlines and within timescales
- You must be careful and aware of your surroundings
Job Requirements
There is no specific educational requirement for this role. But you must have good oral and written English skills, in order to read instructions and communicate within a team. If you have experience within a textile related course, or have worked within a similar format you are more likely to be considered for the position. Some companies provide on the job training, but many sewing machinists gain the skills on their own. You need to have basic sewing skills to be considered.
Opportunities
Once you become a sewing machinist you may decide to take a career path down quality control, or management. But most sewing machinist’s advancements are usually limited to instructor or leadership roles. The salary ranges from £12,709 to £17884, with an average of £15,811
