# Sewing Machine Operators > Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products. - Code: 51-6031.00 (O*NET-SOC; SOC 2018 51-6031) - Family: [Production](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations#family-51), one of its 114 occupations - Tasks: 26 tasks (17 core and 9 supplemental) - Page: https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/51-6031.00 - JSON: https://foundation.org.ai/data/tasks/51-6031.00.json ## What the work is made of 1. Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions. Core task · Task 12149 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017 2. Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components. Core task · Task 12151 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017 3. Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides. Core task · Task 12150 · Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017 4. Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together. Core task · Task 12153 · Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017 5. Remove holding devices and finished items from machines. Core task · Task 12166 · Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017 6. Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match. Core task · Task 12152 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017 7. Fold or stretch edges or lengths of items while sewing to facilitate forming specified sections. Core task · Task 12160 · Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017 8. Cut excess material or thread from finished products. Core task · Task 12159 · Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017 9. Select supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements. Core task · Task 12157 · Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017 10. Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using rulers. Core task · Task 12162 · Rated by 108 people who do the job, July 2017 11. Start and operate or tend machines, such as single or double needle serging and flat-bed felling machines, to automatically join, reinforce, or decorate material or articles. Core task · Task 12154 · Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017 12. Record quantities of materials processed. Core task · Task 12155 · Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017 13. Turn knobs, screws, and dials to adjust settings of machines, according to garment styles and equipment performance. Core task · Task 12163 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017 14. Attach tape, trim, appliques, or elastic to specified garments or garment parts, according to item specifications. Core task · Task 12169 · Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017 15. Repair or alter items by adding replacement parts or missing stitches. Core task · Task 12164 · Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017 16. Perform equipment maintenance tasks such as replacing needles, sanding rough areas of needles, or cleaning and oiling sewing machines. Core task · Task 12161 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017 17. Mount attachments, such as needles, cutting blades, or pattern plates, and adjust machine guides according to specifications. Core task · Task 12158 · Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017 18. Cut materials according to specifications, using blades, scissors, or electric knives. Supplemental task · Task 12165 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017 19. Inspect garments, and examine repair tags and markings on garments to locate defects or damage, and mark errors as necessary. Supplemental task · Task 12156 · Rated by 106 people who do the job, July 2017 20. Attach buttons, hooks, zippers, fasteners, or other accessories to fabric, using feeding hoppers or clamp holders. Supplemental task · Task 12171 · Rated by 105 people who do the job, July 2017 21. Position material or articles in clamps, templates, or hoop frames prior to automatic operation of machines. Supplemental task · Task 12168 · Rated by 102 people who do the job, July 2017 22. Draw markings or pin appliques on fabric to obtain variations in design. Supplemental task · Task 12174 · Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017 23. Tape or twist together thread or cord to repair breaks. Supplemental task · Task 12173 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017 24. Baste edges of material to align and temporarily secure parts for final assembly. Supplemental task · Task 12172 · Rated by 104 people who do the job, July 2017 25. Position and mark patterns on materials to prepare for sewing. Supplemental task · Task 12167 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, July 2017 26. Perform specialized or automatic sewing machine functions, such as buttonhole making or tacking. 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