This testing program consists of five modules, each with its specific requirements and methods of evaluation. Upon successful completion of all five modules, a certificate will be awarded and the participant will be allowed to use that designation in his/her business.
All evaluators are carefully screened and approved by the MSDP Board of Directors. Anonymous evaluations will be conducted on all modules except Alteration Fit, which will be juried in person by a three member evaluation team, and Business Practices which will be evaluated by a Business Professional outside of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. Applicants will be assigned an identification number to be on all submissions. The evaluators will not know whose work they are evaluating and the applicants will not be aware of who is evaluating their work.
Please note this is a summary of the modules and does not include all the requirements of the program. Upon being accepted into the program, you will receive a notebook with all the detailed information and requirements of the program.
Alteration Techniques Module
For this module you will need to acquire several ready to wear garments that will be modified in ways that may render them unusable afterward. We suggest procuring them from Thrift shops.
Suit Jacket, lined with at least one back vent and vented & mitered sleeves with buttons
- Alterations of the sleeves, side seams, jacket hem, and pocket.
- Write out instructions for further repair.
Shirt—with a collar, long sleeves, cuff & placket and a shirt tail hem
- Alterations of sleeves, shoulder, darts, and hem.
Knit top—with no collar, scoop neckline
- Alterations to neckline, hem, and shoulder pads.
Skirt—Straight, lined with no waistband and side seam pockets
- Alterations to waist, side seams, pockets, and hem.
Skirt—A-line with waistband with no pockets & zipper
- Alterations to waist, zipper, side seams, pockets, and hem.
Pants—Elastic waist
- Alterations to waist and hem
Pants—Pleated with fly front zipper and with pockets that are not side seam ones
- Alterations to waist, side seams, stride, and hem.
Jeans—traditional
- Alterations to waist, zipper, and hem
Dress—Princess seam that ends in the armseye
- Alterations to princess seams and hem
Dress—Strapless with chiffon overlay
- Alterations to bodice, boning, and hem
Submit samples of:
- Lace and embellishment techniques.
This module covers fabric characteristics and how they affect apparel design and the way in which they are used in garments.
This module is intended for the candidate who is prepared to:
- Perform a “burn test” for a minimum of eight (8) fabrics to prepare for the test
- Understand the properties, potential sewing challenges, and performance of both woven and knit fabrics
- Identify specific fabric types most appropriate for specific types of sewing projects
- Choose appropriate lining and interfacing for specific sewing projects
- Complete a comprehensive online test
For this module, you will need to acquire several ready to wear garments that will be modified in ways that may render them unusable afterward. We suggest procuring them from thrift shops. These will not be returned to you after the evaluation unless you request it beforehand. You will be given a list of the garments and alterations that need to be done. You will be doing multiple alterations on each garment.
- Obtain several unusable garments (from thrift shops or elsewhere) you are willing to modify and surrender to this project.
- You will be assigned a list of garments and alterations needing to be done on these garments.
- Complete assigned alterations for evaluation
- Garments will be mailed in for evaluation
This module covers correct fit with hands-on evaluation. You will be required to fit 6 garments in front of 3 evaluators. The garment and models will be provided for you. You will be given the list of garments and the areas you will need to fit before the evaluation. If a garment fits well in one of the required areas, you only need to inform the evaluators. Recognizing good fit is as important as correcting a fitting problem.
This module is intended for the candidate who is prepared to:
- Be available for a hands-on fit evaluation.
- Fit 6 garments using fit model(s). Garments and models are provided for this module.
- Review the fit of the garments, and articulate any areas needing alteration for the evaluators.
This module consists of a phone interview with the Director of Operations and two evaluators, that covers a variety of topics relevant to a Master Alteration Specialist. These topics include the proper length for garments, the qualities to look for in a well-fitted garment, the purpose of certain alterations, various alteration techniques and questions concerning client relations.
This module is intended for the candidate who is prepared to:
- Participate in a phone interview with the Director of Operations and two evaluators.
- All questions asked during the interview relate to topics otherwise addressed in the Master Alterations Specialist