15 Mistakes I Made as a Beginner in Dressmaker (And How to Avoid Them)
I made every single one of these mistakes so you don't have to. Save yourself the frustration and learn from my failures.
Let me be real with you — when I first started playing Dressmaker, I was terrible. I ran out of money, I couldn't get 3 stars on easy commissions, and I genuinely didn't understand why things weren't working.
After about 10 hours of struggle and a lot of trial and error, things finally clicked. These are the 15 mistakes I made most often, and exactly how you can avoid them.
1. Buying the most expensive fabric for every commission
This was my biggest mistake by far. I thought "expensive = better" and would blow my entire budget on luxury fabrics for every commission. Newsflash: a 2-star commission doesn't need silk and velvet. You're just wasting money. Buy the cheapest fabric that meets the requirements and pocket the profit.
2. Ignoring the fabric shop upgrade
I hoarded my money and refused to upgrade my shop because I wanted to save for fabrics. Big mistake. Upgrading the shop unlocks better fabrics, which let you take harder commissions, which earn you more money. It's an investment, not an expense. Upgrade whenever you can.
3. Trying to 5-star everything on my first try
I would spend 30 minutes on a single commission trying to get it perfect, then reload if I didn't get 5 stars. What a waste of time! Just complete the commission on your first playthrough, get what you get, and move on. You can always redo it later for a better score.
4. Not using all your fabric types
I'd just use 1-2 fabrics for every commission because I was lazy. But different fabric types contribute differently to the final score! Mix it up — use a main fabric, a secondary fabric for tag coverage, and maybe an accent fabric for color variety. More variety = higher score.
5. Skipping the tutorial because I "knew how to sew"
I played the first 5 minutes, thought "I get it," and started winging it. Two hours later I was confused about why my scores were terrible. Go through the full tutorial. The game teaches you things you didn't even know you needed to know.
6. Selling old fabrics to "make room"
I did this because I thought inventory space was limited (it's not, really) and I wanted quick cash. Don't do it! You'll need that fabric later for a commission, and then you'll have to buy it again at full price. Keep at least one of everything.
7. Taking commissions I wasn't ready for
A 5-star commission would show up and I'd think "how hard can it be?" and accept it immediately. Very hard, that's how hard. Failing a commission costs you money and reputation. If you don't have the right fabrics unlocked yet, just wait.
8. Forgetting to buy fabric before accepting time-sensitive commissions
I can't tell you how many Speed Tailor attempts I ruined by accepting the commission first, THEN going shopping. The clock starts the second you accept. Buy everything beforehand, then accept, then sew nonstop.
9. Ignoring the client's personality
I thought a score is a score is a score. Nope! Different clients value different things. Some care more about style, some about quality, some about... I want to say creativity but I'm not 100% sure. Point is, pay attention to what the client says — they drop hints about what matters most to them.
10. Only using one color
If a commission says "needs blue," I would use ALL blue fabrics. But commissions with multiple colors give you more points for color variety! Even if only one color is required, adding a second (or third) color as trim can boost your score.
11. Not saving before difficult commissions
I learned this one the hard way — I spent 20 minutes on Crowning Glory, failed, and realized I didn't have a save from before I started. Now I save before EVERY 4+ star commission. It takes 5 seconds and saves you so much frustration.
12. Rushing through the story
I just wanted to get to the hardest commissions as fast as possible. But the story is actually really charming! And side characters often give you useful tips and unlock things. Slow down, talk to people, enjoy the ride.
13. Wasting stamina on window shopping
I'd spend half my day walking around town looking at things, then only have time for one commission. Plan your day: buy fabric first thing, then sew all day. Save the exploring for days when you don't have a commission deadline.
14. Being too proud to use guides
I struggled for hours with certain commissions because I wanted to "figure it out myself." Then I finally looked up a tip and was like "oh, it's that easy?" There's no shame in using a guide — the game is still fun, you just waste less time.
15. Not having fun
This sounds cheesy but it's true. I got so focused on perfect scores and achievements that I stopped enjoying the game. Take breaks, do the side content you like, and remember — it's a game. It's supposed to be fun!
👍 Don't Worry — Everyone Makes These Mistakes
The good news is: you'll learn from all of these eventually. The bad news is: you'll probably make most of them anyway. That's just how learning works.
But hey — if you want to skip some of the trial and error, our fabric calculator can find the perfect combination for any commission in seconds.