What Is Calico Toile?
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While it sounds like a type of fabric, a calico toile is actually a tool used by a dressmaker when making a handmade garment. A toile is a mock-up of a dress or other garment that a dressmaker makes to ensure proper fit before constructing the garment out of the intended fabric.
While it sounds like a type of fabric, a calico toile is actually a tool used by a dressmaker when making a handmade garment.
- While it sounds like a type of fabric, a calico toile is actually a tool used by a dressmaker when making a handmade garment.
Definition
A toile is a mock-up of a dress or other garment that a dressmaker makes to ensure proper fit before constructing the garment out of the intended fabric.
Material
Toiles are typically made out of a calico material since calico is fairly inexpensive. A toile would not be made out of a pricey fabric because it will never be worn and would therefore be a waste of the fabric.
How It's Made
A calico toile is a mock-up of a custom made garment. The dressmaker makes a replica of the garment out of scrap fabric and fits it to the customer. This mock-up is then fitted to the customer to ensure an exact fit.
Pattern
First the dressmaker creates a custom pattern for the garment. The calico toile is created from this pattern.
Finished Product
The toile is fitted to the customer and then used to as a new pattern with the custom measurements. The pattern made from the toile is then used to create the final garment out of the selected fabric.
References
Writer Bio
Katrina Solano began writing freelance in 2009. Her articles can be found on various websites. She works at a publishing company in Massachusetts and enjoys writing, shopping and trying new restaurants in her spare time. Solano graduated from Merrimack College in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in communications.