Dressmaker Commissions & Clients Guide
Townsfolk in Dressmaker (Steam / Free Lives) hire you for commissions: measure, design to their taste, craft within budget, and deliver. This page is the loop guide — systems deep-dives live on linked pages.
TL;DR — Read brief → design to tags → budget → craft → deliver
- Open the commission and note style targets, budget, occasion.
- Measure / fit.
- Sketch + preview style tags before buying fabric → Fabrics.
- Cut on grain → sew → decorate.
- Deliver; confirm acceptance / payout.
- Prefer finishing a client chain you started before juggling too many new stories.
Commission brief anatomy
| Element | Player job |
|---|---|
| Style words / tag targets | Design + fabric until tags clear |
| Budget | Cloth + trim must fit |
| Occasion / event context | Silhouette + decoration vibe |
| Deadline / calendar pressure | Don’t idle mid-chain if timed |
Measurements & fit
Commissions typically start with client measurements so the pattern fits that townsfolk body. Follow the on-screen measurement prompts in your build — exact click order can vary by patch.
| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
| Complete measurement prompts before shopping | Prevents rebuilds |
| Re-check brief after measuring | Targets still govern tags/budget |
| Preview on mannequin | Catches silhouette mistakes early → Pattern |
Client chains vs event sets
| Track | What “done” means | Achievement angle |
|---|---|---|
| Named client major commissions | Finish that character’s chain | Per-client trophies |
| Event / occasion dress sets | Complete every dress for the event, not one centerpiece | Event trophies |
| Pigeon deliveries | Separate order track | Own achievement |
These tracks are not automatic substitutes for each other. Details → Achievements.
Pigeon orders
Some commissions arrive via pigeon. They form their own completion track for the “birds/frock” style achievement. Don’t assume finishing main clients covers them.
Scoring triad reminder
| Pillar | Guide |
|---|---|
| Construction quality (grain + sewing) | Grain · Sewing |
| Style tag match | Fabrics |
| Budget adherence | This page + fabric/decor restraint |
Failure modes & recovery
| Failure | Recovery |
|---|---|
| Low quality | Audit grain first, then sewing |
| Wrong vibe | Retag via pattern/fabric samples |
| Over budget | Simplify cloth/trim; avoid accessory spam |
| Abandoned chain | Return before starting too many new clients |
Sabotage note
Steam’s blurb says you can satisfy or sabotage townsfolk. Treat sabotage as an alternate path — not day-1 play. Learn clean deliveries first; a dedicated sabotage walkthrough is out of scope for this page.
FAQ
How do I know delivery succeeded?
Watch for client try-on, dialogue, payout, or unlock signals on your build. If nothing unlocks, the dress may not have been accepted.
Are client chains the same as event achievements?
No — track both if you’re completionist.
What are pigeon orders?
A separate delivery channel with its own completion achievement.
Should I start every available client at once?
Prefer finishing major chains you opened.
Where is the crafting help?
Open the Systems Hub.