Beginning mid-2010 - with a wish to revolutionize my summer wardrobe, I began sewing small-scale versions of sewing patterns - chosen from an older trove. Trip to the beach - everywhere the eye could see - too much exposure... so I chose another path: the look of the glamorous resort vacationer of the past. Within the
Art Fashion Creation blog archives - August 3, 2010 - you can see some vintage resort photo inspiration for that wardrobe.
Fabric, time, energy, and money were saved by sewing preliminary test-versions of the garments: toiles.
Learning of Vintage Pattern Lending Library's 1912 Sew La Mode Illustree Project - in April 2012 - I became a participant - test-sewing vintage La Mode Illustree patterns, with over 750 fellow-participants. My first La Mode Illustree practice-pattern - coincidentally - began not with fabric and thread, but wire: it was a Ladies Spring Hat, built upon a wire armature.
Later, Bill Cunningham's "On the Street: Sun Spot"
New York Times feature piqued my interest - with its attention to Jil Sander's veiled beanies by Stephen Jones, so it was time for another toile. For the veiled beanie, I had no pattern and had to create one - with paper, fabric, patience, and the assistance of the patient small-scale millinery model Hattie - and my Number One Good Luck Employee Cat. Link to the "Sewing a Slouchy Veiled Rib-Knit Cap"
post here.
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| A first small-scale practice toile - McCall's 3232 halter, worn by Hattie. |
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| Bralette and high-waisted shorts small-scale toile, vintage Simplicity 1632. |
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| Hattie wearing small-scale toile for a sarong that was so right - Simplicity 9702. |
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| Small-scale practice toile for romper - from a vintage costume sewing pattern. |
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| Small-scale toile for bloomer-skirt - clever Willi Wear for McCall's 7947. |
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| Fleur's Simplicity 7581 pantdress jumpsuit small-scale toile in progress. See pantdress at Art Fashion Creation header photo. |
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| Hattie wearing a crown-variation small-scale toile for Vogue 8213 sunhat. |
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| Hattie wearing small-scale Vogue 8213 sunhat with large brim, contrast lining, and added ties. |
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| Hattie assisting with VPLL Ladies Spring Hat test-armature. |
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| Model Mimi wearing test-toile for La Mode Illustree Child's Apron, during participation in Vintage Pattern Lending Library 1912 Project. |
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| Bebe Bouton wearing miniscule test-toile for La Mode Illustree blouse - E1000 - VPLL 1912 Project. |
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| Vintage Pattern Lending Library 1912 Project - E1000 Blouse, La Mode Illustree practice toile in progress. |
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| VPLL 1912 Project small-scale toile for intelligently-designed La Mode Illustree Blouse 0219. |
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| Bebe Bouton in her futurist tuta-jumpsuit toile and Enormous Pompon Zinnia Bonnet. Bebe was a doll in need of a new body and this starfish-shaped pattern is the prototype. |
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| Slouch cloche-beanie small-scale toile - fit for Hattie at Art Fashion Creation. |
At the Wordpress blog Dresses and Hats, there are reviews of the La Mode Illustree patterns - and also a post featuring my Great Grandmother's sewing sampler scrapbook - with vintage small-scale toiles.
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| Small-scale apron toile in very old sewing sampler scrapbook - created by the Great Grandmother of Toile La La. |
If you've test-sewn garments using small-scale practice samples, or have comments about vintage sewing samplers - I would love to hear from you here at Toile La La, just click the comment form below.
If you wish to read more about the summer wardrobe practice toiles above, see the Art Fashion Creation blog archives - select the July 2010 posts to begin.
If you wish to read more about the Vintage Pattern Lending Library 1913 Project or the La Mode Illustree small-scale toiles pictured above, see my
dressesandhats blog.
