Kay ~ many thanks for this.
The folk on this newsgroup have provided so much useful and encouraging info, so I've compiled a file of all the salient details.
It's a number of years since I last made clothes of any sort... my only sewing being free-motion embroidery as relaxation. It's coming back to me how much I once enjoyed clothes sewing!
I'm indebted to you & everyone else who responded.
best Anne H. in England