Really good samplemakers have a skill that not every sewer or seamstress has. This skill is unique to people who sew samples versus production and is extremely valuable to the brands they sew samples for.
Good samplemakers, of course, are highly skilled at sewing – often different types of products and fabrics. Unlike production sewing, sample sewing usually involves one person sewing the garment from start to finish. This means that samplemakers need to sew every step of the garment well, not just one operation well.
Samplemakers also need to know how to follow a tech pack or sew-by sample to construct a garment they have never sewn before. Samples are made to test out a new design and so each sample might be the first of its kind. Good samplemakers are mostly self-sufficient and can follow the designer’s instructions and “read” an industrial pattern to cut and sew each sample.
The skill that really sets samplemakers apart from everyone else who can sew, though, is that they are problem-solvers and critical thinkers. Yes, they follow instructions and a pattern, but a really good samplemaker won’t do so blindly. They know enough about production sewing that they can double check the pattern and construction and recommend potential improvements. They spot potential issues that might slow down the production sewing line and let the designer and patternmaker know.
If you are lucky enough to work with a really good samplemaker like this, treat them nice, pay them well, and hold on to them. They are rare and can bring enormous value to your brand.