How to Make Children's Underwear

Creating custom children's underwear is becoming more popular with crafters and parents. Store bought underwear is typically too generic, and boutique versions are pricey. With a little knit fabric, a sewing machine and some patience, you can create funky one-of-a-kind underwear that children will cherish.

Things You'll Need

• Knit Fabric
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Underwear elastic
• Nylon thread
• Pair of cotton underwear
• Butcher paper
• Pencil
• Fabric pen or chalk pencil
• Sewing pins
• Ruler

Instructions

1. 

   Homemade underwear gives sewers the creative freedom to design undies in fun colors and patterns.

   To create the sewing pattern, cut apart the underwear at the side seams. Lay the cut underwear open on a piece of butcher paper. The underwear will resemble the letter H. Trace around the underwear with a pencil, and cut the paper pattern out.

2. Pin the paper pattern to the knit fabric, being careful not to stretch the knit. With the fabric pen or chalk pencil and ruler, trace around the paper pattern adding a ½-inch seam allowance. Cut out the fabric underwear on the hand drawn seam allowance lines. Remove the pins and the paper pattern.

3. Using the ruler, measure the length of the leg opening. Measure the front and back of the underwear waist. Cut two pieces of underwear elastic equal to the leg opening measurement, one piece equal to the front waist measurement and one piece equal to the back waist measurement. Write these measurements down on the paper pattern for future reference.

4. To have a finished seam, fold the edge of the leg opening in ¼ of an inch. Repeat and fold the edge an addition ¼ of an inch. Pin in place. Repeat with the other leg opening, and then the front and back of the waist.

5. Pin one end of the underwear elastic to one end of the leg opening. Pin the other end of the elastic to the other end of the leg opening. Pin the middle of the elastic to the middle of the leg opening. Repeat with the second leg opening, and then the front and back waist.

6. 

   A zigzag stitch allows the underwear to stretch without ripping the seams.

   Using the sewing machine, sew the elastic in place using a stretch stitch or a zigzag stitch. Do this with both leg openings and then the front and back of the waist.

7. With the right sides together, making the underwear inside out, bring the front and back pieces together. Instead of an H, the underwear resembles a T. Pin the sides in place.

8. Sew each side closed, sewing a stretch stitch or zigzag with a ½-inch seam allowance. Turn the underwear right side out, and the project is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Save the paper pattern after step 2 for future use.

• Make multiple pairs of underwear at once by completing step 2 with multiple pieces of fabrics before moving on to step 3. Then complete the underwear in an assembly line fashion.

• Sewing with a straight stitch, instead of a stretch or zigzag stitch, will not allow the underwear to stretch.

References

• Cute Underwaear Making: Baby Briefs Making
• Panty Hanty: Little Underwear For Girl
• Come and See The Seitz: Panty Tutorial: How to Sew Underwear

Resources

• Cute Underwear Making: How To Make Child Boxer