The quick version: turn on Sew Assist, stay inside the budget, check your inventory before buying, and remember that fabric matters more than accessories. The rest is below.
Quality
- Turn on Sew Assist in the settings if you can't reach 100% quality. You still need to press S to slow down at corners.
- Don't rush the sewing. Going too fast pulls you off the line and lowers quality. Straight runs are the only place to speed up.
- Cutting off-grain saves fabric but costs quality. Leaving a piece at an angle can squeeze more pieces onto a roll. A perfect sewing run can make up the difference.
Money
- Stay inside the client's budget. You don't need expensive fabric or accessories for every commission.
- Burlap is free from the start. Use it to test a design, for off-rack dresses, or for clients who want something uncomfortable.
- Sell off-rack dresses. Commissions aren't the only income, and it's a way to use fabric you bought by mistake.
- You're paid when the dress is done, not when you take the job.
Drafting and fabric
- Work with two or three fabrics at a time, especially early. It's easier to picture the dress and cheaper.
- Don't fix every stat in the sketchbook. Fabric moves the numbers a lot, so you can finish the job at the fabric step. Accessories only nudge them.
- "Max" means stay under. Max 10 means 10 or less; 0 is fine.
- Watch for red bars. Some patterns, fabrics and accessories lower a requirement instead of raising it.
- Use the filters for patterns, fabrics and accessories instead of scrolling, and check them again if the list resets.
Common mistakes
- Lace trim and trim are different item types. If a client wants lace trim, ordinary trim won't move the bar, however lacy it looks.
- Left and right are mirrored. The mannequin's left is on your right. Hover a piece to check its name before cutting it from a second fabric.
- Wrong cut? Recycle it from the side menu instead of throwing it away.
- Can't un-sew a piece? Something pinned on top of it is blocking it. Remove that first.
Relationships
Giving a character a dress raises your level with them, and higher levels unlock new patterns. Don't skip the pigeon orders either: they bring special clients to your shop, and finishing all of them is the Birds of a Feather, Frock Together achievement.
Next
- Dressmaker tutorial: the seven steps of a commission
- Commission walkthrough: what to draft and buy for every client
Sources: Guidexon beginner's guide, Into Indie Games tips and walkthrough, Prodigy Gamers beginner's guide.