Jockey shorts are a no-no but boxers are a capital YES. No longer relegated to the underwear department, boxer shorts are everywhere. Teens wear them with T-shirts, men and women wear them for sleep shorts and athletes wear them for playing basketball. Boxers are easy to make, requiring only one pattern piece, and no fitting. If the boxers are for a man, choose a pattern with a fly front.
Boxers can be made in a wide variety of fabrics including flannelette, midweight cotton, and silk crepe de chine-- a luxurious favorite. Before you cut fabric for a boxer shorts pattern, compare the pattern with a pair you already own. Flat-pattern measure the width of the legs. You may want to cut a larger size than the pattern measurements indicate. Most people like a loose fit in boxers. Boxer length is also an issue. You may want your boxers longer than the pattern indicates. You can determine this only by comparing the pattern with a pair of boxer shorts that you love. Try following these guidelines when making boxers:
- Once the boxer pattern pieces are cut out, mark the center front line on the left and right sides for reference in making the fly. Pin boxer fronts right sides together.
- Sew lower part of front crotch curve, sewing 5/8" from inner leg to 5/8" above fly-front extension. Clip crotch curve right under fly extension, clipping seam allowance to within 1/4" of crotch curve stitching.
- Place shorts on the table with the right sides of the fabric facing you. Decide which side of the shorts you prefer the fly front to lap. Men's shorts usually lap left over right, and women's usually lap right over left. Chalk mark lap over side with "LO" and lap under side with "LU" .
- On "LU" side, fold under 1/4" on fly extension. Fold again so that the first fold lines up with center-front marking. Sew 1/8" from fold.
- On "LO" side, fold in fly extension to the wrong side along center-front line. Fold again so that raw edge is enclosed and lap-over side has three thicknesses and the folded edge lies along center-front line. Stitch lap-over side of the fly into place along inside edge of fly extension. This stitching will show on right side of shorts.
- Position fly into its finished place and press. Topstitch horizontally across the bottom edge of the fly and across top edge of fly 2" away from the waistline edge.
- With right sides together, sew backs to fronts at inner-leg seam. Finish seam with flat fell or overlocked seam. Turn one leg right side out. Insert this leg into the wrong side out leg. Pin remaining crotch curve together. Sew back crotch curve, continuing stitching from front crotch curve. Clip curves and finish seam.
- Boxers are now ready for the elastic casing at waist. Press down raw edge 1/4" along entire edge of waistline. To form casing, fold the width of the elastic plus 1/4" to wrong side of boxers. Topstitch casing closed, leaving a 3" opening at shorts back to insert elastic.
- Start out by cutting the elastic your waist measurement plus 1". Insert elastic into casing. Try on shorts to determine how snug you would like them to fit. If the boxers are for sleeping, elastic should be loser. Teenagers like to wear them a little lower than the waist so longer elastic is preferable. If you are making the boxers for a man, use a pair he owns as your guide to how tight to pull in the elastic.
- To join elastic, butt ends of elastic over a piece of fabric cut twice the width of the elastic. Wrap elastic with fabric scrap. Zigzag-stitch the ends of elastic to fabric scrap. This method eliminates bulk in elastic and works to prevent pokey ends from protruding. Close opening in casing.
- To hem shorts, press under raw edge of legs under 1/2". Fold again so that raw edge of fabric is enclosed. Pin and topstitch into place.
Resources webbed elastic - Banroll
Ask for mono filament stretch-elastic non-roll or Wonder Stretch if Banroll XL 90 is not available. Available at fabric stores nationwide.
Simplicity pattern
Due to seasonal changes and new designs, the exact Simplicity brand pattern numbers seen on this show are often no longer available. Visit your local fabric store for similar patterns.
Simplicity Pattern Company
Niles, MI
US
Toll Free Phone: 888-588-2700
Email:
info@simplicity.com
URL:
www.simplicity.com
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