A Dressmaker customer receiving a completed commission in the shop

Dressmaker guide ยท Build 410

Dressmaker beginner guide: your first commissions

Read every commission target, measure the customer, preview the design before buying fabric, keep the cutting layout clean, sew slowly through curves, and confirm all visible targets before finishing.

01 / Prerequisites

Check these before you start

  • OKComplete the opening tutorial interactions.
  • OKHave an accepted customer commission.
  • OKKeep enough starting gold to buy the estimated fabric.

02 / Steps

Follow the workflow in order

  1. 01

    Read the brief before the dress

    Write down the event, budget, and every visible tag target. The customer request is the acceptance checklist, not background flavor.

  2. 02

    Measure the customer first

    Take bust, waist, and hip readings at the visible guide lines. Community testing reports that the first measurements are saved for the customer and the mannequin fit can limit quality even when cutting and sewing are clean.

  3. 03

    Plan the whole silhouette in the sketchbook

    Change bodice, collar, sleeves, and skirt pieces. Add fabric swatches so the projected tags and required length reflect the real design.

  4. 04

    Buy only the useful material

    Choose a fabric roll whose tags support the request and buy enough length for the current pattern. Expensive cloth is not automatically better for an early commission.

  5. 05

    Cut with waste in mind

    Arrange all panels before cutting. Keep grain arrows aligned and leave enough material to adjust a curved panel if the first layout is awkward.

  6. 06

    Sew for quality, then finish

    Slow the machine before corners. Place required accessories, verify every tag and quality target, and only then turn in the dress.

03 / Common mistakes

Avoid wasted time and materials

Buying visually attractive fabric before checking the tag preview.

Skipping or rushing measurements, then trying to fix a quality cap after cutting.

Assuming customer personality is more important than the visible requirements.

Completing the dress while one tag target is still below its bar.