Muslin for fitting garment

Regarding the fitting muslin:

Personally, I use muslin as something just secondary to pattern tissue.
It is not meant to be worn. It is meant to work out the fitting issues, and in my sewing room many times it Becomes the pattern after the fitting is done.

I don't use a "muslin" as a "wearable test garment".
For a coat or jacket I'll use a heavy weight muslin.
I had quite a bit that I'd purchased from a local store that has gone out of business, but I'm just running out now. LindsayT emailed me that she picked up some at the FIT store in NYC last week. The heavy stuff. Link on the sidebar for ordering information from FIT, or, I also found some online here which I think is similar to what I've used. B.Black has some here.

There are questions being asked about whether it is suitable to use a home dec fabric, or heavy denim for the muslin stage.
Think about the draping qualities of your final fashion fabric. IF your fashion fabric is as stiff and heavy as the denim or hdec fabric, go ahead and use it.
My guess though, is that your ultimate fabric is not as stiff as a denim or a home dec fabric.

The muslin that I use, and have suggested, is a tightly woven cotton that isn't as thick or heavy as a woolen, however, it does have some small degree of drape - it won't stand alone in a corner without a body in it. I find it works well as I get a good idea of fit, and I can see my markings and I can draw or write all over it.

On my own personal blog you can see a dress that I just started working on for my dsd that is in it's first muslin, to get an idea of what I'm talking about. It's the 2nd or 3rd entry down now.
It's made using the lighter weight muslin that I buy by the bolt at Joanns, using a coupon, and typically pay 50 cents a yard for.
The muslin I use for coats and jackets is heavier, more tightly woven, and a bit costlier, but when you consider the investment of time, and in many cases the significant investment in materials as well, I think it's worth the $5/yd spent.
OTOH, if you're easy to fit, and you are confident of the pattern, then you may decide to tissue-fit, or use that non-woven pattern tracing material to "tissue fit". It's up to you.


Note: Have more muslin on hand than you think is the minimum essential for cutting your garment.

No need to pre-shrink the muslin - it isn't ever going to get washed or worn.