How to Make a Pair of Knickers

Here's a great idea for those much-loved t-shirts that languish in the back of your closet or in a drawer: make a comfortable and stylish pair of knickers. Use a favorite pair of panties as a pattern, get out your scissors and you'll have a new pair of underwear in no time.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Elastic cord
• Safety pins

Prepare a Pattern

1. Use your favorite knickers as a pattern or download one from Supernaturale (see Resources).

2. Measure your hips. Divide the measurement number by two and add 1 inch. The resulting number is the width, in inches, that you should make each side (front and back) of your pattern.

3. Cut out your pattern.

Take a T-Shirt

4. Determine if your chosen tee has enough fabric for your panties. Check your pattern to be sure.

5. Position your pattern so that the picture or main design on the t-shirt is on the back of your underwear and use leftover material for the front.

6. Cut the pattern pieces from the t-shirt.

Sew Some Seams

7. Hem the wider end of the crotch piece on a sewing machine.

8. Fit the front and back pieces together with the right sides facing. Place on a table or other flat surface with the back side up.

9. Lay the crotch piece on the back piece with the wrong side up.

10. Pin the crotch and the front and back pieces together.

11. Stitch the side seams and the crotch. Leave a 1/3-inch seam allowance.

12. Try on your knickers. While they should be very loose around the waist and legs, they should fit snugly around your hips. Make adjustments if they don't.

Finish Your Fancy Pants

13. Sew around the legs and waist with a zigzag stitch. Don't fold over the edges yet.

14. Fold over the edges 1/3 inch toward the right side. Sew around the legs and waist again.

15. Repeat Step 2. Make sure you fold over enough fabric to feed your elastic through.

16. Insert the elastic into the sleeves at the waist and legs. Try on your panties again. Cinch the elastic until your underwear fit well and safety pin the elastic where you want to sew it.

17. Stitch the ends of the elastic together, cut off any extra elastic and sew up the seams.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't use your favorite t-shirt the first time you attempt these knickers.

Resources

• Download a T-shirt underwear pattern from Supernaturale.

[sewingfllady]

on 8/28/2008 I am looking for a pattern for a mans knickers that was popular back in the 30's. if anyone can help in would be very much appreciated. I am cutting down a reguler pair of mens pants and don't know how to do the bottom of each leg to make it fit correctly.
send if possible to [e-mail]
thank you
Arlene