What this solves
Steam discussions often describe the same surprise: the sketchbook looked complete, fabric tags looked right, and the sew percentage looked high, yet the client still rejects or under-scores the dress. Dressmaker does not grade on a single checkbox. Delivery looks at several axes at once. Style tags can pass while fit is wrong. Sew quality can look fine while budget overspend hurts satisfaction. Grain errors from cutting can cap quality even when the dotted stitch line later looks clean. This page is a diagnostic order for that multi-axis fail, not a claim that every rejection is one specific bug.
Step by step
- 1. Re-read the live commission card
Open the same card you delivered against. Confirm tags, extras, colour limits if shown, and budget. Do not trust memory of an earlier brief for the same client. Named clients change requirements across commissions.
- 2. Check fit and mannequin size before blaming sew
If the mannequin still carries the previous client's measurements, fit can fail while style bars look green. Reset sizing to the current client, then pin and look for tight or loose blocking before you redesign tags.
- 3. Separate grain caps from stitch skill
Ask whether every panel was cut on a green grain outline. A non-green cut can look like a sewing failure at delivery. Remake bad panels before grinding Space and A/D on a capped dress.
- 4. Audit budget and finishing extras
Add fabric spend, trim, and required accessories. A card that asks for a brooch or similar extra will not forgive a cart that spent everything on cloth. Style can look correct while budget satisfaction fails.
Common mistakes
- Treating sketchbook bars as the only pass condition.
- Ignoring mannequin size when the silhouette and tags look right.
- Restarting sewing repeatedly on panels that were never cut green.
- Assuming a named client's previous dress rules still apply to the new card.
Related tips
Category: Delivery. Written from common Steam discussion themes about rejected deliveries. Not a verbatim forum post.