I've always been thick-waisted, and I most likely always will be. Regardless of the specific numbers, when I take my measurements and refer to a sizing chart, I find that my waist is nearly always a rank or two larger than my bust and hip size. For instance, if the chart has me as a size 24 according to my bust and hips, my waist measurement will be in the size 28 range. If my bust and hips say I'm 2X, my waist will be 3X.

I never have liked elastic-waisted pants and skirts. Maybe this is because when I was younger, they didn't make set-in waists and fly-fronts in larger sizes like they do now. Generally, if something is or used to be the only option available to big women, I hate it. (Can you say "muumuu"?)

But now I'm finding, especially while I am losing weight, that an elastic waist is easier to fit and easier to alter. I'm making clothes to replace the ones I'm shrinking out of. Elastic-waists are one alternative. I can make sure they're made in fashionable colors and quality fabrics. They don't *have* to be the same neon-bright polyester pants (usually with the sewn-in seam up the front of the legs ) that I grew up in.

Questions: What size should I consider myself? Do I go by the larger waist size, or the smaller bust and hip size? Should I fit jackets according to my bust or my waist? If I'm sewing one, I'll fit it according to my bust and then let out the waist, but what if I'm buying one from a catalog? If it fits in the waist, it will be too loose across the shoulders.

Same for pants and skirts. When sewing, I'll fit the hips and adjust the waist. But what about ready-made ones? Should I fit the waist and let the hips bag on me, or fit the hips and end up with a huge muffin top?