Fabric, Fur and Leather Cutters

Nature of work

Fabric cutters cut fabric to make parts for clothes, linens and other pieces. Fur cutters cut fur pelts to make parts for clothes and other fur items. Leather cutters cut leather to make parts for shoes, clothes and other leather pieces. Fabric cutters work for clothing and textile manufacturers and other manufacturers of fabric products. Fur cutters work for furriers and fur products manufacturers. Leather cutters work for shoe and other leather products manufacturers.

Job duties

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 show 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.
• Use clicker or punch press to stretch leather.
• Use machine to cut leather or cut single leather skins by hand to make leather products.
• May cut leather samples.

Sample job titles

• clothing cutter
• fabric cutter
• fur cutter
• glove cutter
• leather cutter
• sample cutter
• shoe cutter

Skills

• You should be responsible, alert, and in good physical health. Coordination, agility, and mechanical skills are important. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

• Some high school is usually required.
• Experience as a fabric, fur or leather cutter is necessary for fabric, fur or leather sample cutters.
• Some on-the-job training is provided for jobs in this group.
• Several years of on-the-job training are provided for fur cutters.

Other considerations

• Shift work may be typical for many of these jobs. There is little movement among the different kinds of cutters in this group. Movement to supervisor positions is possible with experience.

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