Thursday, August 20, 2009

Long Live Simplicity

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I bought this Jalie pattern last year in the hopes of getting my money's worth. I mean, boy's size 2 to men's size 52? It's a no brainer that it was worth the price in this three men household. I have been wanting to try Ottobre boxer briefs which are so popular amongst the sewing mamas but a larger size range that would include my husband won out. However, I did apply the method of simplifying this pattern to a two piece job. It was Maria on Sewing Mamas that published a tutorial showing how to merge the two side pieces and one back piece into a continues swath of fabric for less seams and also ease of sewing.

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Also the Jalie pattern calls for a double layered access fly which is not something that the men in my home use. So I eliminated the double layered fly as well as the access portion making these just as easy as the Ottobre version. The solid navy is some cotton lycra knit I bought at Joann's eons ago and the cod piece knit is a cute little "Are We There Yet?" transportation print. I do have boxer elastic but decided for a casing elastic instead that I serged on and then folded down.

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I used a triple stretch stitch that looks like a regular straight stitch but allows the fabric to stretch. The boy has tried them on and approved them for mass production. I can definitely see making a ton of these since it was all of an hour from tracing to sewing and that was with interruptions.

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I will be making one tweak for next time. Since I like the option of using cute prints for the cod piece I will be widening up the center panel and taking off some from the side/back piece. Mr. Maricucu is also looking forward to his personally fitted stash of boxer briefs with one stipulation - no fancy nancy codpieces. Darn!

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On the quilting front, the aquisitions department continues to thrive but never fear (at least for my sanity). I'm actually planning a second quilt which will include some of the precious stash and be my first stab at a proper binding.

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4 comments:

Stacy said...

Those boxers look great! I had never seen the Sewing Mamas site before; I'm over there exploring now and I think I've just fallen down the rabbit hole. :)

MommaMari said...

LOL - so glad to have assimilated another member. Seriously though it's a pretty neat and resourceful community falling squarely in the middle of craftster and heirloom sewing.

CandCFamily said...

I love those shorts. Hmm, ever want anyone to come over and sew with you?

MommaMari said...

I'd love to have you over Carly. Probably best on the weekends when hubby can watch the kids since having visitors over means I usually can't sew at all.