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Dressmaker Seamstress, seamster

Dressmakers create made-to-measure clothing like dresses, trousers and blouses for their customers.

£13,500 to £22,000 average per year

37 to 40 per week

1. Entry requirements

There are no set requirements but you’ll need experience and the skills employers and clients want. Some dressmakers are self-taught.

You could take a college course to gain the skills you'll need to do this job.

Creative Skills has more information on starting a career in fashion and textiles.

2. Skills required

You’ll need:

excellent practical skills
to be able to imagine how designs will look and lay out pattern pieces
an eye for detail and good eyesight
a tactful approach with customers
accuracy when taking measurements and making calculations
colour-normal vision for matching threads and fabrics

3. What you'll do

Your day-to-day duties may include:

discussing the client’s needs
giving the client advice on fabrics and patterns
taking measurements
changing an existing pattern, or creating a new pattern for the client
costing the work
using the pattern to cut out the fabric pieces
tacking the fabric pieces together for a fitting
making samples or ‘toiles’
using a sewing machine or sewing by hand
fitting the garment and making adjustments to create a perfect fit
keeping your accounts, if self-employed

4. Salary

Starter: £13,500 to £16,000

Experienced: £18,000 to £22,000

If you’re self-employed you’ll set your own rates.

These figures are a guide.

5. Working hours, patterns and environment

You’ll usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, including Saturdays.

You’ll normally be based in a workshop or work from home. You may also spend some time visiting clients.

If self-employed, you’ll choose your own hours, depending on the amount of work and the deadlines you have.

6. Career path and progression

With experience you could take on a supervisory role, move into a related career like fashion or textile buying, or become self-employed.

You could also work in costume production for theatre, TV and film.