Overview
Labourers in textile processing perform a variety of manual duties to assist in processing fibres into yarn or thread, or to assist in weaving, knitting, bleaching, dyeing or finishing textile fabrics or other textile products. Labourers in textile cutting cut fabric, fur, or leather to make parts for garments, linens, shoes and other articles. Labourers in textile processing and cutting are employed by clothing and textile manufacturers and other manufacturers of fabric products such as leather and fur.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Labourers in textile processing
Load and off-load machines
Clean textile machines and work areas
Push carts, trucks, or cans of fibres from one work area to another
Assist machine operators and other textile workers as required.
Fabric cutters
Place patterns on top of layers of fabric and cut fabric using electric or manual knives, cutters or computer numerically controlled (CNC) cutting devices
Adjust cutting technique to type of fabric and style of garment
May cut fabric samples.
Fur cutters
Cut fur skins in diagonal strips to specified length and shape of pelt using furrier's knives and cutters
Number pelts to indicate their location on pattern
May sort or match skins, and may prepare fur samples.
Leather cutters
Select leather and cutting dies for leather goods and shoe parts according to specifications
Position leather on cutting bed of machine, maximizing usage according to skin grain, skin flaws and skin stretch
Operate clicker or punch press to stretch leather
Operate machine to strip and cut leather or cut single leather skins by hand to make leather products
May cut leather samples.