[quote: I saw another poster suggest the same thing my mom just did, and that was to use an old bed sheet first. More time involved but I won't waste my good fabric ...
I would rather use inexpensive muslin. The cheapest kind. It's a lot easier to work with.
To add my two cents worth ... I have always found that pattern sizes run much smaller than purchased clothing, so you really DO have to go by measurements alone. I also have a lot more trouble sewing than quilting, especially if it involves some tricky stuff. I'd start with a shift type dress or shorts, pedal pushers, or a very simple top. But the truth is that a whole lot of people sew their own clothes, some are not all that smart, they just learn how to do it. It's not brain surgery.