Working as an alterations assistant to learn to make better fitting clothes
I’ve found a job as a weekend alterations assistant. It’s a weekend job the description is as follows:
‘You will be trained to carry out general duties as within a busy alterations department including measuring/cutting garments and learning sewing machine skills using industrial machines.’
I’m thinking of applying for this job because I have always wanted to learn how to tailor and alter my clothes like jeans, shirts etc and it seems this job may help me learn that? It might be a good opportunity to learn this skill under instruction from a knowledgeable person but it’s only at the weekend so it wouldn’t affect my regular 9-5 job.
What do you guys think?
10 Replies
Seems maybe overkill if your main intention is to learn how to alter your own clothes - you could learn that with a few YouTube tutorials
But if you're interested in getting hands on with the more industrial side and don't mind working weekends on top of a regular job then sounds cool?
Thanks for the input. Are YouTube tutorials enough to learn alterations?
I’m not interested in the industrial side of it just thought I would be getting a free tutor lol.
The way to get good at alterations is to do it lots. It's for the most part simple to learn, but you'll be slow and relatively untidy to start with. This way you'll get quick, simply from doing lots but you'll lose your free time. Is that worth it you?
In this setting you might have access to some stuff that's more of an investment for at home DIY though - overlocker/serger, maybe a button hole machine, maybe a chainstitcher.
For basic stuff at least yes YouTube tutorials are often enough! I learnt how to hem dress trousers by watching this one once, and did a pretty professional-looking job of it myself imo https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HKJluz4MJ9U
Permanent Style
YouTube
How to hem your trousers - like a Savile Row tailor
Savile Row cutter Ben Clarke explains the way trousers should be hemmed - and how you can repair your trousers when the hem comes undone.
A practical video that allows you to master the techniques at home, Ben and British journalist Simon Crompton discuss the methods, including three different ways of stitching.
But yeah like Chopper says, the best way to get better at anything is practice, so if you're happy taking it on as a paid "crash-course" then go ahead, it could be a cool job experience
I would just caution against going into thinking it'll be like a hobby evening course type situation
Thanks mate so it’s a trade off because I would not have to invest money but I would be paying for it with my free time.
Tbh I’m not sure because it’s not well paid but obviously I was thinking I would be saving money by not having to spend any money on equipment. What do you think is the best thing to do for a youngish guy?
i would check if your local library or something similar has sewing machines that are free to use
I think my mom may have an old spare sewing machine
it would be a good way to strong arm yourself into getting good practice, much easier than disciplining yourself to learn in your free time Lol
that’s how i look it at it, i’d like to learn as well but the monetary and time costs turn me away
i only feel willing to learn when i have someone to show me
it seems like a good fit if you're interested in clothing construction
my concern would be how much responsibility will be asked of you; while the understanding is you would be learning, there's still a financial component and likely an expectation of performance that comes with the job.
if you're suddenly not interested in alterations then it's likely going to be harder to pivot away from the paying job vs self-exploration on your own time. if that's worth the risk then go for it imo