Making a Toile for home dressmaking - Laurens hints, tips and advice

[@emma__sews]

Such a useful video, and not only in practical terms, but also in terms of the expectations we put on ourselves for our clothes we make to be perfect. Thank you Lauren for reminding the community that this a hobby and it should be FUN😊

[@marathorne6821]

Excellent advice, Lauren. I tend to make a toile when trying a new pattern, as I know from experience that garments rarely fit me well straight out of the pattern envelope. This is where old bed linen (often thrifted) comes in so handy! I know I am somewhat of a perfectionist, and I hate wasting beautiful fabric by making ill-fitting garments, so for me personally it is worth the time and effort of making a toile.

[@gayprendergast7102]

You are so right about loving fabric...as a retired interior designer I have had a love of fabric since childhood...the feel, colour, shape etc. Love interesting shapes also...particularly Japanese shapes. Thank you so much for great video.

[@lynettedaniels1236]

This was a great video! I actually have been making muslins for a few years but I love learning more about fitting. It is such a challenge for me. You really covered a lot of information. I appreciate all the thought and work you put into this. Thank you!!

[@carmengarcia-pm5ft]

Excellent exposition & introduction to Toile making! You say that you will continue with more videos on toile-making: GOOD!!! Deciding to put darts in a bodice (bust, front or back waist darts, front or back shoulder darts) and then modifying the paper pattern for the darts to disappear totally or partially would be a very needed video for me 🙏! Also how to mark the modifications on the toile fabric & how do you transfer them to the paper pattern. I will stop here because I’m being too greedy☺️. Thank You for the care & time you give to your videos preparations. 🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷😍🤗🤩🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

[@buzzi2k]

If you're still interested in this, The Closet Historian has such great videos on these skills!

[@reevesay]

This is such a great video, full of useful information! I'm a bit of a perfectionist - I loved the advice of asking myself if something NEEDS to be perfect or if I am being too hard on myself

[@maureencullen1008]

Brilliant,a really in-depth yet sensible account of using a toile.

[@carolewilliams5089]

Thanks. A really good common sense approach to toiles and fitting.

[@tammymasson2343]

I love your videos! They are truly helpful. I’m looking forward to more that you have to say on the topic of toiles. I’m unsure on how to actually transfer my muslin changes to my pattern. Do I need to take the toile apart and somehow retrace it? No need to answer here, but maybe in another video. Thank you for all you do!

[@elaine58100]

Thank you so much for this excellent advice. I have found that trying to make something perfect stops me progressing with sewing, and thinking maybe sewing just isn't for me. However moving forward I am going to try to not be too hard on myself and keep going with it :) I have made some lovely dresses but because I know they are not perfect I then think maybe I am just not good enough. Reading some of the previous comments as helped a lot too.

[@NLVStitches]

Thank you so much for this great video packed full of useful information 😊

[@LibAlcock]

I decided to make toiles because I have anxiety about cutting into good fabric. I’m a new sewist and unfamiliar with sewing terms, techniques and cutting instructions (ex. right side, wrong side) and I’m a larger non-standard size. Also I need to decide if the fabric would work with the pattern. I bought a lovely 1.2 meter satin poly that is non-stretch woven. I learned I should cut this type of fabric perpendicular to grainline, wut?. My reasons are varied. I made two toiles so far, 2 different patterns. Not yet happy with look and fit for fabric. I did find a pullover style pattern that is more suitable for woven fabric. Will try another toile. I’m learning alot about patterns and woven vs stretch fabric. Getting close to sewing the final garment. Making toiles out of cheap bedsheet fabric has been a good learning experience. ❤ thanks for this video. You make great points that are affirming to my experience.

[@ruthmiller2592]

This was soooo interesting! I mostly make toiles due to my height, so if there’s bust darts, bodice length and crutch length to consider it’s a must for me. However, through practice I am learning that some adjustments are standard and so ‘having a go’ with not so precious fabric is less time consuming than a toile as I’m very short on sewing time too! 🙂

[@ruthirwin8222]

I loved this ..im designimg my first dress...in velvet for a wedding...im on my 3rd toile lol

[@michaelag9642]

Great video thank you so much, I recently returned to sewing when the NHS needed scrubs. Just made 2 lovely summer dresses each for my Mum and I, had never made a dress before x

[@thenorthernsewist]

Brilliant Lauren, thankyou 👍🏻😘😊

[@makeitjoyful]

This was really helpful. Thank you!

[@sallydingle321]

Such great advice Lauren 👌💗🙏😘

[@janspenno2241]

A great video! Sensible advice

[@louisepartridge6644]

Thank you Lauren, really useful video

[@gillielyall8674]

Thanks Lauren ,such a great video and very helpful .Just one question .I’m tall and the bodice always is too short but the patterns I’ve used don’t seem to have the lengthen or shorten lines . Is there a place you should do this ? Or do you have a video on this ? thank you so much x

[@lizzieb6311]

Thank you! I make a muslin each time I try a new pattern and find that after I’ve completed the muslin that I’m able to quickly move through my real garment because I’ve worked out the tricky areas on the muslin.

[@clairealden1182]

Some interesting perspectives. Thank u. What pattern and fabric type is your shirt as it’s lovely

[@LaurenGuthrieGhani]

Thank you. Its the closet core Kalle shirt and I used a visocse linen mix fabric to make it. It was a few years ago so we don't have that print anymore but we do have it in a few plain colours guthrie-ghani.co.uk/shop/fabric/ecru-viscose-linen-fabric

[@ginahayes6169]

Excellent information, Thankyou

[@susankidd9963]

What a great video Lauren have learnt so much and not to worry and beat myself up when it’s not perfect thanks so much.

[@marywilson1709]

This is such a helpful videos with very thorough answers to lots of my questions! On the subject of which material to choose for the toile, what would you recommend for a coat? I will use wool for the final garment but that is quite expensive to use for a toile so was wondering if cotton would work?

[@LaurenGuthrieGhani]

Hi Mary, when I've made a coat toile before I used calico. Of course it is different from a woollen fabric in terms of thickness but it should give you a good enough idea of fit without having to actually make two woollen coats.

[@nancypollard4531]

You and I have identical fit issues. Is there a particular pattern company that you have come across that fits your body better than others? For example there are some patterns that are designed for a curveier figure that I know I will have to make a ton of adjustments to fit me so I don't bother.

[@LaurenGuthrieGhani]

My fav pattern companies are Closet core and Grainline. I have made some of their patterns so many times. Part of it will be their design aesthetic as well in that nothing is super fitted at the waist so usually there is enough ease that I don't need to worry about grading up there