Boxers Or Briefs? And, Where O Where Did My Sew Mojo Go?!

July 17, 2010 at 1:37 pm (Handmade Products, Knitting, Sewing)
Tags: 5-panel boxers, boxers or briefs?, First Choice Boxers, Knitting, sew boxers, Sewing, Timber Lane Press

Oh, where, O’ where can it beeeeeeeee?

Yes, that age-old question: Boxers or briefs? 🙂

For me, it’s always been boxers. Can’t tell ya why. “They say” it’s a father thang; could be. I’ll buy that. It could also be that the memory of diaper doolittle dan panties are fossilized in the memory 😉 Ahh, yes, Hot Wheels :Shudder:

Classic, vintage Boxers: These were a #%/4/1*!)!!  to make, I’ll tell ya; but, like anything, the effort  you put in will yield what  you get out. This pattern worked me, that’s for sure.

Five-panel construction means loads of seams — one my favorite things 😉

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I just love seams. Here, I did flat felled:

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Yes, I like the fussy. I like the detail, and mostly, I adore the results and satisfaction. I expect to get out what I put in, and I rarely disappoint myself 🙂

I also practice. I  need to practice to learn it. That takes time, that takes DOING IT, and it takes doing it right. Sound like one of my familiar rants? 😉 Yes, nutritional excellence requires it!

“Follow directions, Strix…”

In fact, one of my greatest life lessons –I guess, it is — was what one fabulous teacher used to say: “When all else fails, follow directions” 😀 Ridiculously simple, right?

Hm… Ms. Willard:  Algebra; Funny lady; brainy, eccentric, uber-sarcastic, and witty as heck. Loved her…But, not being a numbers person, I had no choice but to “follow directions.” Mm. Served me well, I must say. If I got nothing else from mathematics, I got that; and that’s BIG. It affects so many aspects of life, really.

Okay, back to boxers :^) These are vintage boxers. Old school! You don’t see these in stores much (if at all). Do you remember them? The five-panel construction is classic. The open placket too.

And by the second pair, I was HOOKED. I love making these now, but, geesh, I’ve run out of men in my life who need boxers!!

I made several of these for gifts (men seem to love getting these), here are some pictures.

*These are the first ones I made, LOADED with mistakes! Still came out pretty good, though. Made from scrap flannel fabric (I’m smart enough to do muslins and practice runs!)

The following two were NOT given as gifts! They were my practice shorts — and I sure needed it.

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The back view. Not too shabby 🙂

…and, actually wearable …

These butterfly boxers, flannel also, were much better, but still had mistakes.

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*By t he third go, I had it down! Even personalized with initials tag 😀

*worked out all the kinks

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Back side:

*This 100% cotton is perfect for comfy cool boxers. And these were prime for gifting 🙂

*Inside 😀

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Oh, and,  yes, that is nursery rhyme toile 😉

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*One of my favorite nursery rhymes

*Too fab;I just had to make myself some jammies…check out my drawstrings! (By the way, anyone notice the error on these? 😉 )

*By far, the most difficult part of the boxers was the placket. After doing as directed, I concluded it had to be and fooled with slightly; I think it  needs it.

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*You can see here how potentially weak that join section can be!

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Actually, maybe it was the crotch section. Yep, I’m a pinster. It really needs it, though. Tough area!

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That really needed altering. Done to pattern, it’s a weak construction, in my opinion, in an area which needs reinforcement. So, I did so, and these are sure to last a long time.

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Quite fussy, but worth it, right? 😉

Back view:

The pattern was not so easy to figure out, but once I “got it,” it was smooth sailing — but still a ton of work.

Maybe the hardest part was pressing the finished product! I  never underestimate the power of pressing, by the way: it is essential to the actual process of sewing (not just the pressing when it’s done). It *will* affect the quality of the finished project.

Lucky for me I love pressing. Hard to believe, I know, but I enjoy all the steps involved leading up to actually sitting down at my machine! That’s the pay off; but the joy is in the creating.

I actually took LOADS of photos of the process so I could refer back to them  when making these again. These were made last summer around this time, actually.  I just want to have it documented just in case I can’t recall a procedure  when I come back to this pattern, which I’ll be doing soon.

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And, of course, I had to make some for me 😉

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Yes, lacy trim and all 😀

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I had to hand-sew this on

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I used a lingerie elastic…

which I think came out great for these — super comfy

Ah, pins again…

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And, I love hook-and-eye closures…

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*I decided I didn’t need a functional placket 😉 But I did a  faux one for looks.

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almost fini 🙂

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I don’t have a picture of these completely finished  and I did make more boxers than pictured here! 😉 These came out nice and comfy — on the loose and airy side, but who wants tight boxers??!

My sew mojo took a backseat to knitting this past winter…

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*Oh, lots o’stuff!

More on knitting projects (and some hand-sewing) soon!

Sew, while my so’ing has been on hold, for the most part, it’s on it’s way back ;D

OKAY, Sooooooooo…what say you?

Boxers? or briefs?! 😉

Strix