Stopped skipping the fabric swatch step and my designs improved
I always picked fabrics just from catalog photos before cutting anything. This caused issues like stiff dresses or colors that looked wrong in real light. So I made a rule to always get small swatches first. Now I drape them, check how they fall, and see them in sun and shade. This tiny habit fixed so many past mistakes. My recent pieces fit better and feel more thought out. I even started a swatch wall for quick inspo. It's boring work but totally worth the extra time.