Most of us would love to turn our hobbies or passions into a career. But for most people, that’s not really an option. However if you love sewing, the internet does actually have tons of opportunities to help you earn an income working part time or full time. That said, we left no stone unturned while compiling this list of the 7 Best Legit Sewing Jobs From Home you can start today.
What Do I Need To Start A Remote Sewing Job?
You don’t really need a fancy degree or certification to sew at home. But you’ll need the skills and equipment required to complete the job effectively. The equipment requirements vary depending on the task. If the gig requires a sewing machine you may need to invest in one. But if you’re part of an assembly line maybe all you need is a sewing needle and thread.
If you’re working as an employee, some employers may supply you the equipment needed to do the job, unless you can source the equipment on your own.
Either way, it never hurts to have the basic sewing tools and equipment like scissors, a measuring tape, hot iron, thimble, threads, a sewing machine and so on.
What Types of Sewing Jobs Are Available?
There are several career options available in the sewing industry, including but not limited to:
- Tailor – Tailors basically create, repair, and alter items of clothing.
- Shoe Expert/Worker – A shoe worker mainly creates and repairs leather footwear and related items like luggage and saddles.
- Pattern Designer – Pattern makers design, mark and cut fabric to desired shapes and sizes.
- Fabric Mender/Embroider – Fabric menders are usually part of an assembly line mainly working on fabric that’s not clothing like curtains, beddings, outdoor structures and so on.
How Much Can I Make Sewing From A Sewing Job?
As a business owner, your income is basically unlimited. Most employment-based sew-at-home jobs pay between $10-$25 an hour. But how much you make from sewing jobs depends on a variety of factors including your popularity, expertise, nature of job and the value you add to the final product.
If for example, you are adding value to a scroungy piece of clothing and selling it for thousands of dollars online, your income will be based on your profit margin. So how much you make is highly subjective.
How To Avoid Online Sewing Jobs Scams
Unfortunately there are scammers that want to prey on your desire for a sewing job. And they aren't always easy to spot them. So here’s how to avoid ripoffs while looking for freelance sewing jobs online.
Never give a client your bank/credit card information – You’ll meet all sorts of clients in freelance websites, all with their own set of demands or requests. Some may ask you for your bank or card information in order to “pay you”. Well, companies like Upwork and Freelancer have their own payment systems, designed to protect both you and the client. Giving out your personal information exposes you to all sorts of risks including fraud, identity theft and other nasty stuff these scammers may be up to.
Avoid working outside the marketplace – If you’re working with a new client for the first time, always work within the constraints of the marketplace. Scammers tend to avoid the systems companies have put in place to protect workers. So the best way to avoid a scam is following the marketplace rules. Remember, if you are working outside the system you’re vulnerable to a ripoff, whereas a marketplace will protect your earnings and will eventually give you what’s rightfully yours. So chances of getting screwed over by a client are technically zero.
Make sure the job sounds legit – As they say, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers will use every trick in the book to bait you into falling for their schemes, and one popular way is to promise heaven on earth. Well, if the deal is too good, you’d better keep your guard up.
Never pay an upfront fee – A popular way to fall for a scam is paying for some sort of training, registration fee, a “starter pack” and so on. Remember stuffing envelopes scams? Think about it; If a client wishes to pay you for a job, why would they require money from you?
To learn more about how to avoid scams online, read this article.
Top 7 Sources of Sewing Work-At-home Jobs
If you’re looking to work at home sewing, here are the companies that are willing to hire you as a remote worker.
WunderKin Co – The company periodically looks for seamstresses to make miniature clothing items dainty bows and scrunchies for kids. They pay anywhere from $15-$20+ per hour based on your expertise. If you live in Denver, Colorado and its environs, you can keep tabs on available positions here.
FranciePants – Want to get paid for making women’s underwear? You can work remotely for FranciePants and earn a commission for every item sold that’s made by you. All you need to do is attend a trio of classes, earn a certification plus a $100 bonus and then work at home as much as and whenever you want. You can go here to get started.
Very Vintage Designs – If you live near Canoga Park, CA (or can attend bi-weekly meetings at their headquarters), you can make $15 to $30/hour making collars for dogs. You can go here to check out the opportunity.
Far Bank Enterprises – This company looks for sewing experts to work at home remotely sewing, knitting, crocheting or making jewelry in the fly fishing industry. They'll require you to attend an in-house training course at Bainbridge Island in WA, but once you get recruited you can work flexibly at home. You can go here to apply.
Stitch Diva Studios – If you’re a yarn or expert knitter, you can make $50-$300 working on a variety of knitting projects creating knit patterns for the company. Some projects require you to produce ready-to-market products to get paid. Others pay you for your time and expertise. You can go here to check out the opportunity.
Upwork – You can find all sorts of remote sewing jobs in freelance marketplace Upwork, mainly involving being part of the assembly line of fashion products. All you have to do is create a profile around your skills. You can work as a sewist, seamstress or tailor for remote clients having set your own rates. You can go here to sign up at Upwork. To find out more about the crowdsourcing company, read my full Upwork review here.
Guru – Similarly to Upwork, you can lock in a sewing contract with remote clients at Guru. Once you sign a deal with a client you’ll be required to honor the contract to get paid. Most sewists here set their rates starting from $20/hr but you’re free to set your own rates. Guru pays via direct deposit, PayPal, Prepaid MasterCard and wire transfer. You can go here to create a Guru worker account.
Can I Really Work At Home Sewing?
You can definitely work at home sewing and there’s a plethora of ways to launch your sewing career. It doesn't matter whether you choose to work for someone, work as a freelancer or run your own business. Legitimate online sewing jobs exist and continue to grow. But be careful. There also exists sewing jobs scams online, so you ought to be careful before signing up for any opportunity.
Well, I hope you found this article useful. Would you work at home sewing? If so, what route would you take? Feel free to chime in your thoughts in the comments section below.
Until next time
Eddy with a Y.