Advancement Operators who know all the sections and have mastered the skill of sewing the whole article of clothing may become sample makers, instructors, or forepersons. These workers get an hourly or weekly salary that is a little above the earnings of piecework operators, but they are free from the pressures of piecework, and they usually have steady work during the slack seasons, as well as in busy times. For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank . Click Right facing arrow to replay the Video, Speaker Icon to control Sound. Sewing Machine Operators run high speed electric sewing machines to make clothing and other cloth pieces.
Operators use commercial machines that are heavier and run faster than machines used in the home.
Sewing Machine Operators are generally classified by the type of sewing machine they use, such as single needle, multineedle, double needle, overlock, or blind stitch, and by the type of work they do, such as collar stitcher, sleeve finisher, or pocket setter. Most operators run a regular machine that sews pieces of cloth together in a seam. Operators usually start on single needle machines that have one needle and make a stitch like those made by home machines. Operators position pieces of cloth together and hold them so that when the needle connects the pieces the stitch made is straight and smooth. They also can start and stop the machine smoothly when running it at high speeds.