What Stitching Title Do You Use For Yourself?

Sewist, sewer, stitcher, seamstress, quilter, tailor… These are few of the many words that the world uses to describe people who sew. Each term differs in meaning and elicits certain meaning to different people. So, what do you call yourself?

Seamstress

A woman who sews, especially one who earns her living by sewing.Many women call themselves seamstress, which is defined as a “woman whose occupation is sewing.” But for those who are gender conscious, prefer to be called another term because this word tends to be “sexist” or “gendered.” For some, seamstress implies a factory worker who seams. Seamstress is more appropriate for women who specifically make clothes professionally. As per various job descriptions - A seamstress may be either a factory worker who repeatedly sews the same pattern or an artisan in an independent shop who repairs customers clothing or creates entirely new designs to sell.

Sewer

This is the oldest, most dominant term used for describing people who sew. Many people use this word because its meaning is always clear from the context. But let’s face it, sewer often does not sound or read right. Sewer is great when you’re talking out loud. Yet on paper, it can look like we’re talking about a way to carry off drainage water and waste matter.

Sewist

“Sewist,” on the other hand, is also popular. A lot of people see it as a non-word, but it is actually a word, according to the Oxford Dictionary, for example. It basically refers to a person who sews as a hobby.

This term is a new, modern word that also describes people who create sewn works of art as they see it as a combination of the words "sew' and "artist".

Nowadays, a lot of people prefer this word because it’s gender-neutral and the meaning it implies is appealing. It is used more and more. Sewist is frequently used for those who sew as a creative outlet, art, or hobby, rather than solely for professional income. Many see it as a trendy and contemporary word. But some people dislike it because it is new and sounds a bit strange. English is a living language...

Tailor

A tailor is “a person whose occupation is the making, mending, or altering of clothes, “In the past, the term ‘Tailor’ was used to refer to men who made tailored items of clothing. It is now acceptable for women who work in tailoring to also be called a tailor.

Quilter

Those who don’t want to be confused with someone who makes clothes or does alteration prefer to be called a quilter which is defined as “a person whose hobby or profession is making quilts.”