In dressmaking, What is the difference between a block and a toil?

Question

I would like to know why you would need both a block and a toile? Is one for cutting out? Are they necessary? Please.

Answer 1

a toil pronounced twail, is a garment made of a soft cheaper  material sometimes then used as the lining for the garment being made in a more expensive material.this way less mistakes are made that cannot be put right and so saves a lot of heart ache and expence. You do still have to be carefull about matching patterns and nap when cutting out the garment but having already made a toil stiched together with a running stich the fit will have been ajusted and should be perfect.

A block is a solid implement that helps to shape, usually used for Hats, and is used with steam.

Answer 2

Hi there,

When I made a block - I took my measurements and transferred them to paper - which made it 2D picture of my shape. Really just a paper pattern I guess.

But - when I made a toil in calico fabric (from the block) which was draped round my own shape - it then became a 3D representation of my size (really big!). :)

Answer 3

Margaret J's answer is good. A block pattern can also be a pattern that you make to fit an individual which can then be used to make other patterns, ie. it can be adapted to other styles but it's basically your "second skin" in the form of a sturdy paper pattern. I'd say they are necessary if you're going to make lots of different styles for yourself and Margaret is right, a toile saves wasting the expensive material!