Alteration Tailor

Alteration tailors use machine sewing or hand sewing skills to alter or repair clothes to suit customers.

The Work

Alteration tailors work on jackets, suits, trousers, coats, skirts, dresses, shirts and other garments.

You could be:

• altering or repairing garments which the customer brings in, or making final minor adjustments to new made-to-measure or ready-to wear garments to fit customers


• measuring the client and marking the garment with chalk or pins to show where to make the alterations


• working in a sewing-room using a sewing machine


• where necessary stitching or tacking by hand, removing stitching and re-stitching


• taking in or letting out waistbands; taking up or letting down hems; putting in and pressing pleats; altering sleeves


• repairing garments: patching or darning holes; replacing zips and buttons; carrying out invisible mending


• using chemicals or heat to fuse linings and inner canvases to outer fabrics


• ironing or pressing garments.

Conditions

• You would usually work around 39 hours a week, but might have to work evenings and weekends.


• Hours are often flexible, and part time work is often available.


• You could work in a sales area which is open to the public, or in the back shop.

Getting In

• You do not need formal qualifications.


• Sewing experience (both by machine and by hand) is helpful and sometimes necessary.


• You may be able to get in through a Modern Apprenticeship, Skillseekers, Training for Work or direct entry to a job with on-the-job training.
• You might enter after taking a National Qualification (NQ) or National Certificate (NC) in a subject such as fashion design and production.

What Does It Take?

You need to have:

• an interest in sewing and fashion
• good eyesight and normal colour vision


• an eye for style and detail
• patience and tact


• accuracy and neatness


• skill in working with your hands.

Training

• Training is usually on-the-job.
• You could take a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Level 3 in Manufacturing Textiles.


• You might take a qualification such as the BTEC Certificate in Design Crafts or the ABC Level 3 Diploma in Handcraft Tailoring.

Getting On

• Alteration tailors often work in small companies with no formal promotion structure. Even in department stores the tailoring section is likely to be small, so there is little chance of promotion.
• Some alteration tailors start their own business.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work


• the size of the company or organization you work for


• the demand for the job.

More Information

Addresses

The following organisation(s) may be able to provide further information.