Alright, so I finally got around to making some women’s boxer shorts. Been meaning to do this for ages, and figured, why not share the whole messy process?
First thing’s first, I hunted down a pattern. Found a few online, some free, some not so much. I ended up grabbing one that looked simple enough – didn’t want to scare myself off with anything too complicated on my first try. Printed it out, taped it together (that’s always a fun time, said no one ever), and then cut out the pattern pieces.
Next up: fabric! I raided my stash and found some soft, breathable cotton jersey. Figured that would be comfy. Laid out the pattern pieces on the fabric, making sure to align everything with the grain. Pinned it all down like my life depended on it. Then, carefully, I cut around the pattern. Scissors are my weapon of choice, but a rotary cutter would’ve probably been faster.
Okay, now for the sewing part. I started by serging all the raw edges. This step is crucial, otherwise those little threads will unravel like crazy after the first wash. If you don’t have a serger, a zigzag stitch on a regular sewing machine will do the trick. After that, I followed the pattern instructions (mostly). The first step was sewing the front and back pieces together at the crotch. Kind of awkward to describe, but you get the idea.
Then came the side seams. Easy peasy. Just lined up the edges, pinned them, and sewed ’em together. After that, I had to attach the waistband. This was a bit tricky. I cut a long strip of elastic, folded it in half lengthwise, and then sewed it to the top edge of the shorts, stretching it as I went. This is what gives the shorts that snug, comfy fit around the waist. I hate doing waistbands; they always seem to twist on me.
The leg openings were next. I just folded the edges over twice and sewed them down, creating a little hem. Nothing fancy here, just keeping it simple. And finally, the last step: I added a little tag with my initials inside the back. Just a little personal touch, you know?
All done! Not gonna lie, they’re not perfect. The waistband is a little wonky in places, and the stitching isn’t as neat as I’d like. But hey, they’re comfy, and I made them myself. Plus, now I have a pair of custom-made boxer shorts that fit exactly how I want them to. I even made a matching pair for my daughter.
Lessons learned? Always double-check your pattern instructions. And don’t be afraid to experiment with different fabrics and styles. I’m already planning my next pair!
