How to Use the Cutting Table in Dressmaker

It is easy to pick up the scissors in Dressmaker and trim the fabric roll when you meant to cut a sleeve. That is an expensive little snip. These steps cover the Windows Steam release, Build 410, with a mouse and keyboard. A pattern piece is one part of your dress, such as a bodice panel or sleeve.

1. Identify the piece. Hover over a piece in the side inventory. The mannequin hint shows where it belongs. Check that spot and your planned fabric before placing it.
2. Place the pattern. Drag the piece onto your chosen fabric, fully inside its edges. You can use the mouse wheel to rotate the piece while holding it. Check its direction before cutting; the way you place it affects the finished dress.
3. Cut out the piece. Select the plain scissors icon at the bottom right, then click the placed pattern, away from the roll’s cut edge. Let the cutting motion finish. The shaped panel separates from the cloth around it. Right-click the cut panel to send it to the side inventory; seeing it there confirms you have a piece ready for the mannequin.

The scissors icon shown cutting fabric is for trimming the roll, which removes a used section instead of shaping a pattern piece. Check whether another small piece fits in the remaining cloth before you trim. When the trim works, that section clears and a fresh edge of the roll is left to work from. If you only need more room for the next panel, press D to unroll more fabric first. The scissor gods can wait.