---
title: "Toile"
description: "A toile is a trial version of a garment, made in cheap cloth such as calico, used to test and perfect the fit and cut before cutting the final fabric."
type: Glossary
url: https://teazle.art/glossary/toile
published: 2026-10-14
updated: 2026-10-14
author: "The Teazle editors"
---

# Toile

*A toile is a trial version of a garment, made in cheap cloth such as calico, used to test and perfect the fit and cut before cutting the final fabric.*

In couture and tailoring, a design is first made as a toile, French for cloth. The maker fits it on the client or a form, marks the alterations directly on the cloth and uses it as the corrected pattern. In American English the same thing is often called a [muslin](https://teazle.art/glossary/muslin.md).

## Is toile the same as toile de Jouy?

No. [Toile de Jouy](https://teazle.art/glossary/toile-de-jouy.md) is a printed fabric; a toile in this sense is a working sample.


## Sources

1. [Common sewing and pattern making terms defined](https://blog.fabrics-store.com/?p=32171). Fabrics-store.com
2. [Sewing terms to know](https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2010/10/11/sewing-terms-to-know). Threads Magazine

Canonical: https://teazle.art/glossary/toile