Sewist or sewer?

[GrimmExhibition]

If somebody sews would you call them a sewist or sewer?
Sewer, to me, sounds like they work down the drains, but il use it if its preferable to sewist.
What do you think, sewer or sewist?

[MemyCrafts]

In the late 60’s if you went for a job sewing your were called a machinist. I like to alter my description to include sewing, i.e. I love sewing, as I think sewist and sewer don’t seem right somehow.

[Caroleecrafts]

By my US friends I am called a Stitch Artist, which I like. When making clothes a seamstress. Not keen on sewer as agree drains spring to mind.

[RedDragonDesigns]

I’ve never thought about it, I don’t consider myself good enough to be called a seamstress but sewist it’s or sewer don’t sound very appealing. If anyone asks I just say “I just make stuff” I have always quite liked stitcher as I used to do a lot of cross stitch before my hands got too achy.

My autocorrect has just told me that sewist isn’t a word, if that helps at all.
Donna x

[curiousseagull]

Does it depend how you pronounce the words? In my accent being a sewer as in stitching things sounds very different to a sewer as in the drains. Haha

So to me- saying ‘I’m a sewer’ sounds fine. But maybe Fabric Artist or something sounds nicer and covers all bases!

[EileensCraftStudio]

Donna’s right sewist is not a word it’s a sewer ie a sewer of items.

A seamstress like myself has sat her sewing exams and has learnt to design, adapt a pattern, lay a pattern, cut and sew a dress or other’s clothes.

A machinist is someone who has learnt to sew a seam on a industrial sewing machine but has no input into the design or laying out or cutting.

Hope that helps.

[HelenSmith]

I think it depends what you make too, sewing covers so many areas of expertise. A bit like painter I suppose, Rembrandt was a painter but so is the guy who painted the outside of my house…

[HeavenlyAnarchist]

I hater sewer, it makes me think drains too
For everyday sewing I’m a seamstress (seamster also seems popular at the mo, for a less gendered way), for more arty stuff I’m a textile artist.

[SashaGarrett]

Following on from the previous comments I guess how you refer to your profession depends on who you are talking to. My father always used to say ‘artists are basket weavers and that the only job worth having is being an engineer’ (don’t shoot me I don’t share that view with him and I think I’ve changed his mind now) so to him I say I’m a ‘small scale precious metal engineer’ to everyone else I’m a jeweller.

[SueTrevor]

There is a sentence in English that can be said but not written, the woman was in the living room sewing garments, the man was in the field sowing seeds, together they were …
Just thought I’d add this useless piece of information to this thread! Oh, I do love threads!

[HelenCliffordArt]

How about ‘needleworker’? or would that just be for hand-stitch?

[EileensCraftStudio]

I always think of that when I’m working embroidery or tapestry.

The other terms I think of is Needlewoman but then it only works for a woman working with a sewing needle.

[BigBirdLittleBird]

I wouldn’t use either sewist or sewer as both sound “wrong” to me.

I’d say for me I’m a textile artist. Or even a designer/maker as I create all my own patterns as well as putting them together.

My older sister Helen, aka Big Bird, used to make her own clothes (as well as knitting, crochet, embroidery) and we’d just say she loves to sew. Mind you she didn’t do it from a business perspective! I guess it depends what input you have with designing your items (i.e. a designer) to whether you just follow a pattern (seamstress).

[EileensCraftStudio]

I’m a seamstress and I design my clothes make the pattern, adapt a bought pattern, lay out and cut and assemble we learnt it all when I took my exams many years ago.

[BigBirdLittleBird]

I’d describe you as a designer then Eileen, if you are designing too. But it’s up to you how you describe yourself

[Beledien]

Isn’t english great? Heh. If I had to choose between sewist and sewer I’d go for sewist … no smelly connotations!

But I always refer to myself as a seamstress if I’m putting down my occupation on a form or telling people what I do. It’s rather quaint, and I like it!

[EileensCraftStudio]

aww thank you, yes I’m a designer, my biggest project was designing my own wedding dress from 15metres of raw silk, 5metres of brocade lace and hundreds of peach, white and purple beads which were all hand sewn on.

[SamanthaStanley]

Please don’t shoot me @EileensCraftStudio , but I thought I’d mention that back in the olden days “seamstress” was also a euphemism for the oldest profession…back to the sewer then

Sam x

[SamanthaStanley]

I think the word you are searching for is a French one, “atelier.” This word covers all needle-working, dressmaking, embroidering, etc. My great aunt was part of the team that made Princess Alice’s trousseau and I think that is how she would have described herself.

Sam x

[BigBirdLittleBird]

Wow I bet that was some wedding dress Eileen! Must have taken ages to make with all those beads.