Dressmaker walkthrough: every client and commission in order

How the story moves along

• Story commissions come one at a time. When one is over, ring the bell for the next.
• Story commissions always come in the same order: the bell brings the first one you haven't completed yet. Your rank and friendship stars don't change who comes next.

Waiting for a client who hasn't come yet, like Dorothy? The bell rings every time you click it, but a client only comes when it's flashing. It flashes once no story commission is open and the next one is waiting. Your rank and friendship stars have nothing to do with it. Find Pigeon Adoption in the lists below: every commission above it comes first.

Friendship and rank still matter, though:

• A commission that succeeds gives +1 friendship (one star) and +1 prestige. A failed one gives +0.25 friendship and +0.25 prestige.
• Every whole friendship star you earn with a client unlocks the patterns listed for that star, up to 5 stars.
• Each new rank brings that rank's fabrics and accessories to the International Emporium.

Every name below links to its own page. A commission's page has the client's request and requirement lines, plus fabrics that fit them. A client's page has their measurements and the patterns each friendship star unlocks.

Commissions players lose most

Players lose track of these most often:

• Rose's second dress
• Marie's first commission
• Prudence's second commission
• Adora's first commission

Don't worry, none of them is gone. An open commission only leaves your sketchbook when you complete it at the front desk. Starting a new dress, taking a new commission, Restart Dress, or selling or gifting its dress all leave its page right where it is. The lost commission guide shows you how to turn back to its page. Rang the bell and nobody came in? Then a story commission is still open, and the same guide helps you find it.

Your first clients

You meet Rose, Prudence and Priya here.

The tutorial walks you through your very first dress, and the first hour guide follows along step by step.

• A commission is a success when the dress meets every requirement line that applies to it. Miss one and it fails.
• You get a commission's budget when you deliver the dress, even if the dress fails. The exception is 18 story commissions, where a failed dress reopens the commission and you get another try.
• Open the commission's page before you shop. It points out easy-to-miss traps, like a fabric you start with that breaks one of the lines.
• You can't sell fabric or accessories back, so it pays to buy just what you need. The money guide has more ways to save.

1. Librarian Workwear is Rose's first dress in the story.

   Rose needs a dress for work.

2. Flamboyant Funeral is Prudence's first dress in the story.

   Prudence needs a dress to stand out at the Duke's funeral.

   • A failed dress gets another try.
3. Fierce Funeral is Priya's first dress in the story.

   Priya needs an intimidating dress for the funeral: formal and gothic. Naturally, it must not be colourful.

New clients and off-the-rack dresses

You meet Marie, Edith, Fiona, Alice, Vivian, Dorothy and Adora here.

From here on, you can also sew dresses just for you. The game says so itself:

• Unless you skipped the tutorial, these tips show up the first time you open your sketchbook after off-the-rack dresses unlock. Many players lose Marie's first commission right here.
• Create New Dress on the new dress page starts an off-the-rack dress on a fresh page after your other open dresses, and that dress becomes your current dress. Your commission keeps its own page and dress. Each press adds one more page.
• An off-the-rack dress has no client, no budget and no requirement lines, so you can sew whatever you like.

4. Respectful Funeral is Marie's first dress in the story.

   Marie needs a sensible black dress to attend the late Duke's funeral.

5. Biographer's Interview is Edith's first dress in the story.

   Edith Swan needs a dress for an interview with her biographer.

6. Vegetable Empire is Fiona's first dress in the story.

   Fiona wants a cheerful gardening dress.

7. Studious Motivation is Alice's first dress in the story.

   Alice wants a dress that will help to motivate her to study.

8. Chilly Overtime is Rose's second dress.

   Rose gets chilly while working overtime, and would love a warmer dress.

9. Nocturnal Glamour is Vivian's first dress in the story.

   Vivian wants a velvet dress in which to stalk the night.

10. Pigeon Adoption is Dorothy's first dress in the story.

    Dorothy wants a new dress for feeding birds at the park.

11. Undercover Servant is Prudence's second dress.

    Prudence needs an elegant dress... for housework.

    • Pigeon commissions waiting for this one: Perfect Picnic for Marie, Rodent Relations for Rose and Tomb Raider for Rose
12. Sporting Chance is Adora's first dress in the story.

    Adora is excited to take part in the annual sporting day competition.

    • A failed dress gets another try.
13. Spirited Exercise is Alice's second dress.

    Alice wants to exercise her demons.

14. Phoenix Costume is Edith's second dress.

    Edith needs us to recreate one of her old stage looks so she can sit for a portrait painting.

15. Exhibition Opening is Priya's second dress.

    Priya requires a dress for her exhibition opening that represents her as an artist.

    • A failed dress gets another try.
    • Pigeon commission waiting for this one: Not Haughty for Prudence
16. Secret Art Critic is Adora's second dress.

    Adora wants an avant-garde dress for Priya's exhibition.

17. Art Appreciator is Vivian's second dress.

    Vivian wants a sequined dress to attend Priya's art exhibition.

Gifts and the messenger pigeon

Two new things open around here. After Pigeon Adoption, clients can send you commissions by pigeon. After Art Appreciator, you can give dresses as gifts too.

• When you press Gift Dress, only clients you already have some friendship with show up in the list. Gifts don't pay any gold.
• The pigeon brings one commission per client, in a fixed order. It skips any client who already has a commission open. An open pigeon commission doesn't hold up the story. The bell still brings your next story commission. The pigeon guide lists every pigeon commission and the story commission it waits for.
• Pigeon commissions don't expire. Once one is on offer, it stays there until you take it, so there's no rush.
• Want to read a newspaper again? They're all on the newspaper page.

18. Goat Mediation is Marie's second story commission.

    Marie needs a dress that gives her confidence, so she can solve a dispute involving a goat.

    • Pigeon commissions waiting for this one: New Aesthetic for Priya, Romance Reader for Edith and Selafie's Wish for Alice
19. Walking Billboard is Fiona's second story commission.

    Fiona wants to be transformed into a walking billboard to promote her vegetables.

    • A failed dress gets another try.
    • Pigeon commissions waiting for this one: Reporter Fiona for Fiona and Proper Lady for Adora
20. Carrot Promotion is Edith's third story commission.

    Edith wants to support Fiona at the Market Fair. Fiona wants Edith to dress as a carrot.

21. Love Labyrinth is Alice's third story commission.

    Alice is on a mission to find her true love in a hedge maze.

    • Pigeon commission waiting for this one: Exotic Moth for Vivian
22. Hedge Camouflage is Dorothy's second story commission.

    Dorothy needs some camouflage in order to spy on people in a hedge maze.

    • A failed dress gets another try.
23. A-maze-ingly Lost is Fiona's third story commission.

    Fiona is accompanying Dorothy through the Twillford Hedge Maze, and wants a loud dress in case they get lost.

    • Pigeon commission waiting for this one: Aspiring Florist for Fiona
24. Floral Romance is Prudence's third story commission.

    Prudence wants a flowery dress for the Spring Fete.

    • Pigeon commissions waiting for this one: Graveside Visit for Edith and Extraterrestrial Entreaty for Dorothy
25. Spring Fete is Marie's third story commission.

    Marie needs a romantic dress for the Spring Fete!

    • A failed dress gets another try.
    • Pigeon commissions waiting for this one: Potential Fratricide for Priya and Kroq's Wish for Alice
26. Librarian Conference is Rose's third story commission.

    Rose is attending an important conference, and wants to look professional and impressive.

27. Artistic Retreat is Priya's third story commission.

    Priya is going on an artistic retreat, and wants a forest-inspired dress for the occasion.

    • Pigeon commission waiting for this one: Good Aunt for Prudence
28. Precious Pigeon is Dorothy's third story commission.

    Dorothy is supporting her pigeon friend at the Pet Show, and has asked for an eclectic dress.

29. Beloved Ox is Fiona's fourth story commission.

    Fiona is taking her beloved ox to the pet show.

    • Pigeon commissions waiting for this one: Best Baker for Fiona and Cheerful Frog for Adora
30. Secret Gallery Visit is Prudence's fourth story commission.

    Prudence wants to visit Priya's exhibition in a disguise.

    • Pigeon commission waiting for this one: Fainting Dress for Priya
31. Parental Guidance is Alice's fourth story commission.

    Alice wants a dress to wear for a séance.

    • A failed dress gets another try.
    • Pigeon commission waiting for this one: Unstained Beauty for Vivian
32. Comfortable Coffin is Vivian's third story commission.

    Vivian needs a silk dress to achieve the best possible beauty rest.

    • Pigeon commission waiting for this one: Detective Dorothy for Dorothy
33. Marie's Wedding is Marie's fourth story commission.

    Marie is going to be a DUCHESS! She needs a wedding dress.

    • A failed dress gets another try.
34. Maid of Honour is Priya's fourth story commission.

    Priya needs a bridesmaid dress for her brother's wedding!

    • Pigeon commission waiting for this one: Cat Amongst Pigeons for Edith
35. Never the Bride is Prudence's fifth story commission.

    Prudence is mad, and wants to attend Marie's wedding in 'damn-you-all' dress.

    • A failed dress gets another try.
    • Pigeon commission waiting for this one: Poetic Muse for Marie
36. Dressed Down is Dorothy's fourth story commission.

    Dorothy is distressed — I'm going to make her a nice summer dress to lift her spirits.

    • A failed dress gets another try.
37. Moonlight Wanderer is Adora's third story commission.

    Adora feels conflicted about something, and needs a dress to go stargazing.

38. Midnight Warrior is Vivian's fourth story commission.

    Vivian needs a fearsome dress to strike terror into the heart of her enemies.

    • A failed dress gets another try.
39. Constellation Inspiration is Priya's fifth story commission.

    Priya is upset and wants to clear her head. She needs a dress to go stargazing.

40. Raven Rising is Alice's fifth story commission.

    Alice is attending the summer ball in all her glory. She wants to look like a raven.

    • A failed dress gets another try.
41. Bold Tigress is Rose's fourth story commission.

    Rose wants to make a change, and needs a glamorous tigress dress for the Summer Ball.

42. Daring Heist is Adora's fourth story commission.

    Adora is breaking into the royal palace!

43. Gala Supporter is Dorothy's fifth story commission.

    Dorothy is excited to support Edith at the Opera Gala, and wants to dress fancy.

44. Opera Night is Fiona's fifth story commission.

    Fiona is off to the opera! She's excited to support Edith.

45. Another Encore is Edith's fourth story commission.

    Edith is returning to the stage! This gala is her big night and she needs to shine.

    • A failed dress gets another try.

The end of the story

The last story commissions are folded away, so the ending stays a surprise. Open them when you're ready.

• Pigeon commissions are a bonus. To reach the final commission, you only need to complete the story commissions.
• Can you keep making dresses after the story? Yes. After the credits, the game takes you back to the front desk, so you can keep sewing. Any pigeon commission you haven't taken yet is still waiting for you.

When a dress fails

• On 18 story commissions, a failed dress gets another try. Each time it fails, the debrief reopens the commission and you can work on the dress again. You get no gold, friendship or prestige from it until you deliver a dress that succeeds.
• Once you complete a commission, the game never offers it again.
• If the dress misses a requirement line, Complete Commission asks you to confirm first. You can still deliver it, but the debrief will count it as failed.
• Only Complete Commission completes a commission. If you sell or gift its dress instead, the commission stays open with no dress, and you'll need to sew a new one.

The lists above mark every commission where a failed dress gets another try. On all the others, the first dress you deliver is the one that counts, so check every line before you press Complete Commission.

Missed a line of the story? Every client's dialogue is on the dialogue pages.