You could wear dungarees too, they don’t have to be tight round the waist at all.

Not with my bladder! I'm often having to pop behind bushes when walking the dog and I need it to be a swift operation!

I could wear braces, but belts work just as well as I can undo them when I sit down - but I'd still have to wear jeans that were far too big, and it's not a good look on a small frame. So being able to adapt a pattern so it's size 8/10 in the legs, 12 in the bum (to allow for comfort when sitting down) and 14 at the waist would be good. Ah well, by the time I've decided what to make I'll be able to move into dresses and bare legs.

I'm also thinking of taking in the legs of some baggy boyfriend jeans, using a pair of better-fitting ones as a guide. At least I'll have plenty to keep me occupied during lockdown... Knowing me, probably mostly unpicking!

I had been thinking about elastic for most of the way round, but drawstring across the front... but again, if I don't have completely coherent instructions it would all go horrible wrong!

Meant to add, yes, I'm definitely a jeans person. I work from home and (usually) walk the dog twice a day, often involving mud, gorse, brambles, ticks... I only change in between walks if the mud is in danger of falling off my jeans and onto the carpet!

Some may remember me posting a while back about my sensory issues causing problems with waistbands. Long story short, for me to be comfortable when relaxing, I need to waistband to be loose enough that my trousers fall off when I stand up. Elasticated waistbands aren't the answer, because they only stay up because they are putting slight pressure on my tummy. Dresses would be the answer if it wasn't for the fact that I don't find tights comfy either!

I've been playing with adapting the clothes I have, but I am the world's worst when it comes to going off piste, and I'm much better at following instructions, so I'm thinking about finding a pattern and making jeans/trousers from scratch. Fitting might be difficult as I'm never sure if I'll be comfy before I've totally slobbed out in them, and I'm also only 5' tall, but I'm thinking that I could compare the pattern pieces with a pair of my more comfortable jeans and let that guide me.

My ideal style would look like skinny jeans/jeggings, with a large waistband that could be pulled in tight with a belt when I'm out and about (OK, I'm not out and about much right now ) and let out when I'm home. A zip would allow me to undo it when slobbing, but pull-up would work as long as there are belt loops, and as long as the waist didn't have to be so loose that it was horribly gathered when pulled in.

Fabric - I have problems with anything but the softest, or crispest fabrics - I have some jeans that make my legs feel as if I'm wearing a cheese grater before long. I'm wondering about denim jersey knit, but don't know if it would work with standard jeans patterns.

This is one of the patterns I've been looking at: https://doitbetteryourself.club/product/the-dauphine-skinny-jeans-pdf-sewing-pattern-misses-and-plus/ Alternatively, jeggings with a drawstring in place of elastic might work, and I'd consider something looser, like this, as long as it didn't look like I was wearing pjs: https://www.bonniespatternshop.com/listing/505169686/jalie-3676-vanessa-fluid-pants-welastic

Soooo... if you didn't give up reading three paragraphs back - is there any chance that a pretty rubbish sewer could successfully make a pair of jeans, adjusting them for my peculiarities? (My mum says I've no hope - thanks Mum ) And could anyone suggest any pattern/fabric combos that might work? 

I told you it was friendly, @Button Nose - welcome from me too!

Thank you everyone I'm quite tempted by the Iris plastic-headed ones as the tin is so pretty! Knowing me I'll probably end up going for the cutest pincushion too...

Thank you Brenda

I have a new Juki HZL-353Z-a. But I'm unlikely to be any use to you whatsoever as mine is a LOT more basic than the DXL, and given my lack of experience I couldn't tell a good modern machine from a bad one!

I'd wondered how pdf patterns worked. They hadn't invented pdfs last time I used a pattern!