How to Sew Men's Boxer Shorts for Christmas
Sew a pair of boxer shorts to give as a Christmas present. Make the boxers holiday themed by using a reindeer or Santa Claus print on cotton or flannel fabric. When you make the shorts, you may want to reference a pair of boxers the recipient usually wears to make sure you make the shorts the right length. To wrap the shorts for the holiday, roll them up when finished and tie a ribbon around the center. Put it in a stocking or under the tree.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Poster board or kraft paper
- Marker
- Straight-edge ruler
- Scissors
- 1 yard of Christmas-themed cotton or flannel fabric
- Straight pins
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine
- 1-inch wide elastic
Instructions
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1
Measure around the part of the waist where you want the boxers to sit. Divide the measurement by four and add four inches to it for seam allowance and room. This is measurement A.
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2
Draw a horizontal line on the poster board or paper that measures the length of measurement A. Draw a vertical line from the end of the horizontal line on the right that measures the length you want the boxers to be plus an inch. For example, if you want the finished boxers to be 14 inches long, draw a 15-inch line. Draw two more lines to connect the horizontal and vertical lines. You should have a box on the paper.
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3
Measure one inch over from the left on the top horizontal line. Draw a nine-inch vertical line down from that point. This will be the opening for the fly.
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4
Measure two inches over from the vertical line on the left side and four inches up from the horizontal line on the bottom. Make a dot at this point, then draw two lines connecting the horizontal line on the bottom and the vertical line on the left to the dot. The connecting lines will be slightly curved. This is the pattern for the front of the boxers.
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5
Make another box on the paper with the same measurements as the first box, for the back side of the boxers.
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6
Measure four inches over and down from the lower right corner of the box and make a dot. Draw a line connecting the lower left corner with the dot. The line will have a slight slant.
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7
Measure two inches to the right of the dot, then five inches up. Make another dot, then draw a line connecting the first dot to the second. Draw a slightly curved line connecting the horizontal line on the right to the second dot.
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8
Cut out the front and back pattern pieces. Fold the fabric in half, right side facing in and pin the pattern pieces to it.
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9
Cut the fabric along the patterns. You should have two pieces each of the front and back.
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10
Pin the two front pieces together along the curved horizontal line. Stitch together with 3/8-inch seam allowance. Pin the two back pieces together along the curved horizontal line and sew with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. You've just sewn the crotch, or middle part of the front and back pieces together.
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Unfold the front piece and lay it flat on a table, right side facing up. Unfold the back piece and place on top of the front piece, right side facing down. Pin the pieces together along the two sides and sew with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
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12
Pin the front and back pieces together on the inside to make the legs and crotch. Sew them together with a 3/8-inch seam.
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13
Fold the bottom edge of each leg opening up 1/4 inch, then up another 1/2 inch and pin. Sew along the edge to hem the legs.
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14
Turn the boxers right side out. The fly portion of the front will extend beyond the center on both sides. Fold each flap over one inch and pin, then sew in place.
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15
Fold the top edge of the boxers down 1/4 inch, then down 1-1/2 inches and pin in place. Stitch around the top edge, leaving a two-inch wide gap so you can thread the elastic in.
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16
Wrap the elastic around your waist, stretching it just enough so that it is snug but comfortable. Cut the elastic. Push a safety pin through one end of the elastic and thread through the casing on the top of the boxer shorts. Once the other end of the elastic enters the casing, pin it in place. When you get all the way around the waist of the boxers, sew both ends of the elastic together, then sew the gap on the casing closed.
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17
Roll up or fold the boxers and you're ready to wrap them for Christmas.
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