How Do I Sew Boxer Shorts

For anyone who has ever asked themselves, "How do I sew boxer shorts?", fortunately you have a myriad of places to check for a satisfactory answer.

For the sewing novice, learning how to sew boxers is a good beginner project. They don't require a lot of fabric and can be made fairly inexpensively. There are patterns available in fabric stores and online; prices range from less than a dollar to several dollars. You might find there are one or two patterns that you take to and that work with a variety of materials. If that's the case, you can make the same basic pattern over and over again, but with different fabrics, enabling you to fashion boxer shorts that are never the same.

Don't think boxer shorts are just for men. In recent years, boxers for women have become very popular lingerie items. Teenagers and women routinely wear comfortable tees paired with feminine boxers for nighttime or just lounging around. Knowing how to sew your own boxers works whether you're a man or a woman.

Some people might wonder why anyone would want to sew men's boxers when there are plenty available at any number of stores. With the time and effort involved in crafting these items yourself, you usually save time and money buying them. However, some people simply enjoy crafting their own clothing and accessories. When you sew your own boxer shorts, you have total control over the color and fabric. If you want silk boxers, you can buy silk material; if cotton is your preference, there are plenty of cotton materials to choose from. You can also add personal touches to your boxers such as hand-embroidered monograms, something that the average store-bought boxer can't boast.

If you enjoy sewing and often make gifts for friends and family instead of buying the same old department store items, then you can personalize boxers for recipients and really put some thought into the color and style, making truly unique shorts that will be appreciated. Perhaps you're someone who just loves seeing men in boxers; if so, making a pair as a gift for your significant other is a thoughtful way to show him how much you care.

Making your own pair of boxers from scratch is a fairly simple project. Some of the materials you'll need are:

• Fabric of your choice
• Elastic tape
• Cotton or stretch thread
• Pins

You'll need to figure out how much material is necessary depending on the size of the boxers you're making, and you'll also need waistband measurements to measure the right length of elastic.

To sew a simple pair of boxers, follow these directions:

1. Cut your fabric according to pattern. Make sure to allow extra room for seams.
2. Pin fabric in place if desired, wrong side facing out.
3. Begin sewing at the waistband and work down the hip on both sides.
4. Sew the inside leg.
5. Hem the legs.
6. Sew the elastic tape inside the waistband with the stretch thread, overlapping the fabric and sewing casing to cover it.

If you're making fly-front shorts (not necessary for women), you'll have to take that into account when cutting fabric for the front and choosing how you want the flap to overlap (left over right or right over left).

If you don't want an elastic waist, you can fashion a regular waistband—perhaps with a button closure--but beginners may want to keep the project simple until they've sewn a few pairs and become more comfortable with construction.

Some helpful places to look for boxer short patterns and instructions include:

• Free Bernina 125 boxer shorts: This step-by-step features pictures that the beginning sewer will probably benefit from.
• This brief how to make boxer shorts tutorial has helpful photos detailing how your fabric pieces will look before sewing them together. The second pair – a blue version – has lace detailing on the waistband that's great for girls and women who like to wear boxers.

Once you've practiced a few pairs, you'll never again have to wonder "How do I sew boxer shorts?" Instead, you'll enjoy all the fun and creativity you get from choosing different fabrics, personalizing patterns and perhaps even making your own designs.

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