The old muslins probably aren't any use anyway, if you've aged. I know mine aren't. None of my old costume patterns and mock-ups fit my "mature" body now. I'll be starting from scratch next time I make something.

The only thing I've made in the last few years is night/lounge wear. Pajama pants are easy, making them a little large is not a bad idea. You're bigger in the seat than you think. The one thing I remember from a bust fitting class years ago is that there are different kinds of problems. They can be high, low, or hanging to the sides, each of which has a different solution. Also, some neckline shapes don't work with some body shapes. For example, I can't wear a v-neck or it becomes a peep show. And of course, do your fitting over any support garments you might wear.

 

All good advice Contrary! I hear you about the body changes. My bust is not quite where it used to be, and my rear takes up more space than I consider reasonable these days. . I find after the lockdown here which started in March 2020 and just ended a few months ago, I'm much less comfortable in my off-the-rack, polyester-blend business casual. For many online meetings I confess I wore "business on the top, garden on the bottom" : a nice business casual blouse, makeup and earrings with a pair of well-worn jeans and my muck boots. During one meeting our smoke alarm went off and I flew out of my chair to go check. When I got back everyone was sending me PMs about my "business country" look (which I consider a compliment).

So now I'm working on fitting my actual body which conforms to no standard pattern sizing ever with clothing that is modest, comfortable and business appropriate. One of my coworkers is from Hawaii and wears muumuus but in classic prints. I'd never seen a muumuu in paisley before and it looks quite nice. She could go to a meeting in it and not look out of place as long as she wears dressy flats with it. Bless Kate Middleton for bringing back simple classic dresses and skirt suits, and proving even a princess can wear a dress or coat that flatters her more than once. My dress pattern is very simple, just the empire waist blouse pattern with a slightly gathered skirt attached. I can't wait to play around with my stash fabric to add some pleats or ruffles or pintucks, and start using up my button jar.

 

Easiest ever skirt: (I can get by with 45" wide silky-type fabric, width needs to go around the hips with several inches of ease.) Need about a yard, pick a nice print. Sew selvage edges together. Leave a walking slit at the bottom if wearing it long. I wear the slit on the side. Hem the bottom, make a casing at the top/waist to insert elastic. I made about 6 of these. Wear with solid color top or sweater.

 

That is most of the skirts I have made for myself. Sometimes I use a drawstring instead.

I also have a bunch of wide fabric belt I have made in various prints. They are about 4 inches wide. So simple to make. It helps give the illusion of having a waistline.

 

I can't sew, but can mend. Gramma tried to teach me to make a pillow from two washclothes on her old treadle (hence nice and slow moving) machine which I now own. I was about 8 years old...I sewed the thing to the sleeve of the shirt i was WEARING!!! Cripes.
Good luck with the hand sewing!

 

Maggie, you are not alone. I once sat by a campfire in full view of about 20 reenactors and somehow stitched part of the seam of the chemise I was making onto a fold of the gown I had on. Nobody said anything, so I just waited until everyone was focused on the bard and waved my friend over to run grab me a modern seam ripper so I could extricate myself. When people say they do hand sewing while watching TV programs, I just think "dangerous, very dangerous" and keep my eyes on my task to make sure the hem of my blouse isn't getting stitched into the ruffle of my new nightgown.

 

Sorry, Maggie and Mme, but ROFL! I think we've all had such incidents. I don't recall ever sewing something to something I was wearing, but I've done my share of bonehead things while sewing. I once ran over my finger with my industrial walking foot sewing machine, the one with the needle the size of a medium sized finishing nail. Lucky I didn't break a bone.

When I do handwork while "watching" TV, it's more like while "listening" to TV.

I learned on a treadle machine when I was little, too. Mom assumed l'd be less likely to hurt myself than with her electric machine. I used that till I was a teenager, then was given an electric machine of my very own.

 

Love this! I’ve totally been there with the ‘robo-boob’ drafting disasters—turns out geometry and human curves don’t always play nice. Your six-piece blouse plan sounds brilliant, especially the fake placket cheat (buttonholes are the devil’s fasteners).
I’ve hacked so many ‘favorite garment’ patterns it’s ridiculous. My best success? Tracing a well-loved tunic onto wrapping paper, then adding seam allowance like a mad scientist. For ultra-quick sewing, I lean hard into:

• Rectangle supremacy: Medieval chemise logic never fails. Need a nightgown? Two rectangles + sleeves = done.
• Franken-patterns: Mix the neckline of one top with the body of another. Chaos? Sometimes. Wearable? Usually.
• The ‘scrap muslin’ gamble: ‘This old sheet totally behaves like linen,’ I lie to myself.

Also, zero judgment on the plaid sheet nightgown—that’s just efficient cozy alchemy. If you haven’t tried the ‘fold-and-cut’ method for kimono-style wraps (literally folding fabric and cutting one curve for neck/arms), it’s a game-changer for lazy sewing.
Would love to hear how your blouse turns out—especially any new ‘hilarious adjustments’ along the way!