🧵 Grain Line Alignment – The #1 Quality Factor
⚠️ Critical: This is the most common reason for low quality scores!
Many players achieve 100% sewing accuracy but still fail quality requirements because pattern pieces aren't aligned to the grain line.
What is Grain Line Alignment?
In real dressmaking, fabric has a "grain" (the direction of threads). Patterns must be aligned with this grain for strength and proper drape. Dressmaker simulates this: each pattern piece has arrows that must point left/right (horizontal) when placed on fabric.
How to Align Properly
- Step 1: Drag a pattern piece onto the fabric in the cutting room.
- Step 2: Rotate the piece (click and drag to turn) until the arrows point left ← → right.
- Step 3: Look for the green outline around the piece. This confirms correct alignment.
- Step 4: If no green outline appears, the piece is misaligned. Keep rotating until you see green.
What Happens if Misaligned?
According to the game developers: "If they don't point that way, your quality score per piece gets capped." This means even perfect sewing won't rescue a dress if pattern pieces are cut off-grain. Each misaligned piece lowers your final quality score.
💡 Pro Tip
Check every single piece before cutting. It's easy to miss one sleeve or bodice panel, which can drop your quality from 80% to 60%.
Visual Reference
Correct alignment: Arrows point → ← (horizontal), green outline visible
Incorrect alignment: Arrows point ↑ ↓ (vertical) or diagonal, no green outline
⌨️ Keyboard Controls Guide
As of Prototype 0.5.5 (October 3, 2025), Dressmaker supports keyboard controls for sewing, making the process much easier and more precise than mouse-only input.
Controls sewing speed / activates the sewing machine. Press and hold to sew forward.
Rotate/turn the fabric left or right while sewing. Use for curves and corners.
Recommended Control Setup
Most players find keyboard + mouse hybrid works best:
- Straight seams: Hold Space only, let the machine pull fabric through
- Curves/corners: Hold Space + tap ← or → to adjust angle
- Sharp 90° turns: Stop (Space released), rotate with arrows, resume
Mouse-Only Controls (Alternative)
You can also sew using only the mouse:
- Click and drag forward to sew
- Drag left/right to rotate fabric
Note: Many players report keyboard controls feel more natural and give better results.
✂️ Sewing Techniques for 100% Quality
Follow the Dotted Line
When sewing, you'll see a dotted guideline on the fabric. Your goal is to keep the needle (or "hand" icon) on this line. The game displays an accuracy percentage in real-time – aim to keep it at 90-100% throughout each seam.
Technique Breakdown:
-
Straight Seams (Easy):
- Hold Space steadily
- Let the fabric feed through naturally
- Should maintain 95-100% accuracy easily
-
Gentle Curves (Medium):
- Hold Space continuously
- Make small adjustments with ← or →
- Don't over-correct – tiny taps only
-
Sharp Corners (Hard):
- Stop before the corner (release Space)
- Rotate fabric with arrow keys until lined up
- Resume sewing (Space again)
- Slowing down here is key!
Pacing & Rhythm
One player review noted: "It was still a good reminder to take things slowly and settle into the rhythm before trying to dart onto the next stage." Resist the urge to rush – sewing too fast causes jagged lines and accuracy drops.
⚡ Speed vs. Accuracy Trade-off
Holding Space lightly = slower, steadier. Pressing firmly = faster, riskier. For beginners, go slow until you build muscle memory.
When to Use Mouse vs. Keyboard
- • Long straight seams
- • Precise corner turns
- • Reducing hand fatigue
- • Very gentle curves
- • If you prefer tactile control
- • (But most find keyboard easier)
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Forgetting to Check Grain Line
Problem: You sew perfectly (100% accuracy) but still get low quality scores.
Solution: ALWAYS verify pattern arrows point left/right before cutting. Look for green outline on every piece.
This is mentioned repeatedly by the developers as the most common quality issue.
2. Rushing Through Corners
Problem: The sewing line goes askew at corners, creating jagged seams.
Solution: Stop completely at corners. Rotate with arrow keys. Then resume sewing. Don't try to turn while moving.
3. Over-Correcting on Curves
Problem: Fabric rotates too much, causing you to overshoot the dotted line.
Solution: Use very light taps on arrow keys. Small adjustments = smooth curves.
4. Not Using Keyboard Controls
Problem: Mouse-only sewing feels imprecise and causes hand fatigue.
Solution: Switch to Space + Arrow keys (added in update 0.4.4). Most players report this is much easier.
5. Ignoring the Accuracy Meter
Problem: You don't notice when accuracy drops below 80%.
Solution: Glance at the percentage display frequently. If it drops to 70-80%, slow down immediately or stop and restart that seam.
🔧 Troubleshooting & Known Bugs (v0.5.5)
As of Prototype 0.5.5, some bugs and visibility issues may affect sewing. The developers are aware of these and working on fixes for the full Steam release.
🐛 Bug: Hand/Needle "Twitching"
Symptom: The sewing hand icon shakes or glitches, especially when not actively sewing.
Status: Developers confirmed: "We are aware of the twitchy hands bug but I'm not sure what causes it."
Workaround: Usually visual only – doesn't affect actual quality. Try using keyboard controls instead of mouse to reduce occurrence.
⚠️ Issue: Dotted Line Hard to See
Symptom: On light-colored or patterned fabrics, the green dotted sewing line is nearly invisible.
Affects: Light fabrics (cream, white, pastels) and busy patterns.
Workaround: Zoom in closer (【假设】if zoom is available, or position camera carefully). Sew slowly and rely on the accuracy percentage meter. Some players suggest choosing darker fabrics for easier sewing.
⚠️ Bug: Sewing Line Doesn't Appear
Symptom: Occasionally the dotted guideline doesn't show up on certain pieces (reported on ruffle sleeves).
Status: Multiple players reported this intermittent bug.
Workaround: If this happens, try exiting to main menu and re-entering the sewing phase. Or sew blind (very carefully!) and hope for the best.
💡 If Sewing Feels Impossible
If you're consistently scoring below 60% quality despite following this guide, double-check:
- Are ALL pattern pieces showing green outline? (Not just some)
- Are you using keyboard controls? (Space + Arrows)
- Are you slowing down at curves and corners?
If yes to all and still struggling, join the official Discord for help from other players and developers.
📝 Version Notes & Future Changes
This Guide is Based On:
- Version: Prototype 0.5.5 (released October 3, 2025)
- Platform: itch.io free prototype
- Status: Feature-complete prototype; full Steam version in development
Recent Improvements (Sep-Oct 2025)
- 0.4.4 (Sep 9): Added keyboard controls (Space + Arrow keys) for sewing
- 0.5.1 (Sep 23): Improved sewing sensitivity, added new dress patterns, fixed trim placement
- 0.5.5 (Oct 3): Fixed ruffle skirt panel ordering (latest version as of this guide)
What May Change in Full Release
The developers are currently working on the full Steam version. Expected changes based on community feedback:
- Alternative sewing controls for accessibility
- Better visibility of dotted line on light fabrics
- Fixed twitchy hand bug
- More forgiving quality scoring (possibly optional difficulty modes)
- 【假设】Possible tutorial improvements explaining grain line alignment more clearly
🚀 Full Game Development
The team announced they're "putting our heads down" to work on the full version. Wishlist on Steam to get notified when it releases!