Sewing Project #2 - Double-duty Homemade Panties

I am a thong and g-string type of person. Butt floss all the way. I usually buy socks and panties in bulk, 10 or 20 at a time, which is great for matching things, but sucks when they all start to get too worn to wear. So, when my underwear all started to die at the same time, I decided I would start to make it rather than buy it. (I will start to crochet socks this fall as it cools off.) I experimented with making g-strings out of old t-shirts and elastic, and got very good results. But I did not have many t-shirts to use, and that would have meant I needed to buy more stretchy cloth. So, I decided to find a way to make panties out of the literally 100's of yards of cotton non-stretchy cloth that I currently have in my possession. Now I have one of many quirks - I require that everything I make or use has at least 2 uses. How could I make panties that had another use? I mean, panties are panties, right? Well, if my panties covered way more than a g-string does, then I would not need to cover up for my embarrassed 20 year old son or a surprise visitor. (I hang out at home in panties with or without a tank top.) This led me to my double-duty panties that are also shorts. They fit like "boy shorts" panties and are very flattering. Yes, a far cry from butt floss, but I swear they are the most comfortable panties I have ever worn and still meet the sexy factor for my partner.

I used a very simple pattern for this; New Look #6494 which has a pattern for shorts, relaxed pants, and a skirt. It costs $3.94 and says it is a "1 Hour Pattern." I have made a skirt from this and the pattern is very good. I may make the long pants for long underwear this winter. From cutting to finished panty, it was right about one hour so the name is totally accurate. Anyway, you want a very simple pattern with 4 pieces (cutting 2 each of a front and back) only for simplicity. And it should be cheap because there is not much to it!

I followed the directions for the shorts up until the waistband part. This pattern has a more complicated waistband on it, but I just folded it over and ran some 1/4" elastic through it for ease. Panties have a cotton crotch in them that is at least 2 layers thick. I made a crotch section from 3 layers of light cotton flannel-like cloth - about 8" x 3". I pinned it in the inside of the panty, and then "topstiched" both the seams from the outside so the crotch stays put and looks like the rest of the garment. See, when this is all you are wearing, no one needs to know this is a panty! I also put a bit of ribbon in the front because the front and the back are almost exactly the same and I was putting them on backwards and feeling "pinchy" all the time. Never let it be said I do not know my ass from a whole in the ground!

You can make these from any remnant cloth, old sheets, pillowcases, shirts or the like. I have a few of the prettiest ones hanging from my indoor clothes line for your viewing pleasure. These are very comfortable, and do not "show" under even my skin-tight jeans. I just push the waistband down a bit and no one can see any of these panties. You could also alter the pattern a bit and make some great high cut panties the same way if you did not care about wearing them around the house and freaking your visitors or children out. Use up your cloth stash and save wear and tear on your fancy store-bought panties with some of these babies, and let me know how you like them!