converting old t-shirts into women's panties

Found at reddit

Hey, I do this! Mine are more complicated though, panties are Very uncomfortable without a separate crotch piece. A seam rubbing in the tender bits is absolutely horrible.
I made this pair for my little sis'. There were tons more but I never took any pictures. I'm working on another set for a craft show though, I can post pictures when they're done.

These hold up well, they're about 4 years old in this picture (sorry no action shot, lol).

Yeah, when you have more, put up the pics!

How long does it take you to make a pair?

Hey, glad you like them! They take a ridiculous amount of time actually, that elastic is very fussy to stitch on. I'm hoping that making them assembly line style will be a bit faster. I have a few pairs sewn and waiting for trim and a whole lot more pairs waiting to be sewn then trimmed. I'm away for the month of June but will hopefully get them all done in July in time for a craft show. I'll even try to get an action shot or two  .

I did some of these for a PEP sewing Badge Bit: https://permies.com/wiki/167224/pep-textiles/Sew-pair-panties-boxers-briefs

My actual submission is here: https://permies.com/wiki/167224/pep-textiles/Sew-pair-panties-boxers-briefs#1466905 and shows how I cut up a t-shirt as my donor material and used an worn out pair as my pattern. I actually hand stitched the pairs in the photos, but I also used a zigzag stitch on my machine to make a couple more pairs because I found them so comfortable. I wasn't going for cute designs - just plain colours in 100% cotton upcycled T-shirts!

This can be a great "learn to sew" project because it's cheap and no one will see the mistakes!

I have actually taken a pair of underwear that I loved and made a pattern on t-shirts with a logo on the rear!

Thank you for this thread. I have made 2 pair of bloomers from T-shirts. Feel comfortable except that I  don't like the feel of the seam in the tender parts.  Does anyone have a pattern for bloomers with the crotch insert?

I should have also said that I don't wear that high-cut leg portion, I like the boxer short-type but with the crotch insert.

Or just don't wear any panties. I haven't worn them in over 20 years but I don't have discharge like I hear other ladies do. Great idea though!

I don't wear undies when at home in a house dress or LOOSE fitting sweat pants or thermals, but to go out in public I just can't bring myself to go commando, LOL!  I don't have discharge issues at all since menopause, however the seam of a pair of jeans chafing there is just too much.

But I love the idea of making comfy old t-shirts in to panties.  The first pair in this thread looked like there was no elastic in the legs... that might work OK, but the waist definitely needs elastic.  I have a rag bin (cheap large plastic tote from Costco) that I toss old fabric items into, so now I just need to stock up on elastic!  Although I have to say I don't think I have ever worn out a pair of panties.  I have outgrown them, but I still have and wear some that I have had for over 20 years.  My man stretches out the elastic in his after a year or so, but mine only have issues if the elastic itself fails through getting old and brittle and breaking instead of stretching.  

I always figured, aside from patching, that I'd use the rags after our supply of toilet paper and/or paper towels and/or kleenex ran out once they become unavailable, but this is a good idea as well!

ok, I hand sewed these together for my wife. these are a poly fleece, but I did use an old t-shirt for the part that touches the yoni.  just blanket stitched the the t-shirt part on. and the rest of it, no seams below, just stitches on the hip part, and  scraps from Joannes fabric store. Took a pair of my wife's favorite unders and used it as a template.  Now. I'm going to have to recreate these with some t-shirts.  Not a big fan of the poly, but, they seem to keep her butt warm.  Now, the t-shirt version, i'm probably going to have to learn how to use the serger. uff. There's always a fun winter project to tackle. Cheers. P.
edit... ok how many guys hand sew their wives underwear!?!  especially if it's fleece and functional, and fits. I'm going to work on the poly thing and move to natural or other natural up-cycled materials. but...

T.  Joy wrote:Hey, glad you like them! They take a ridiculous amount of time actually, that elastic is very fussy to stitch on. I'm hoping that making them assembly line style will be a bit faster. I have a few pairs sewn and waiting for trim and a whole lot more pairs waiting to be sewn then trimmed. I'm away for the month of June but will hopefully get them all done in July in time for a craft show. I'll even try to get an action shot or two  .

These days we can use fabric glue for the initial attachment. Make a ring for the waist of the fabric, run a bead of glue around, then stretch the elastic around.
I'd still recommend sewing after the glue has dried.
I assume this could be done for men's underwear as well. pick apart a store bought pair to make a template.

B Callender wrote:Or just don't wear any panties. I haven't worn them in over 20 years but I don't have discharge like I hear other ladies do. Great idea though!

Yes, panties are for women who use hygiene pads.
Men's underwear is supposed to keep the dangly bits in a comfortable position.
But since we don't talk about the "down there", most people don't realize that.

I keep.saying I'm gonna knit some out of my alpaca wool. My t shirts are all way beyond hokey by the time I throw them in the rag bin. Lol Maybe I can make patchwork quilt panties. Now wouldn't that be sexy!  Lol. I tried to make a bra out of yarn once.  Don't do that.  Itchy.    

Another reason for sewing underwear at home is that the new elastic sometimes causes rashes.

Candace Williams wrote:Another reason for sewing underwear at home is that the new elastic sometimes causes rashes.

I am using elastic in the ones I make, but it's completely in a casing of the cotton jersey fabric, so I won't have to worry about that one!

If one was having that problem with new commercial underwear, using a strip of material off a t-shirt and stitching it to cover the elastic might be enough. I've not had a reaction to elastic myself, but I have had one to the artificial serger thread. I'd get hives along the seam line!  For a while, undergarments got worn inside out to reduce the exposure. A liver cleanse and reducing consumption of certain food triggers, combined with careful clothing choices, cleared up the problem. (Alas, I now *count* how many strawberries I allow myself to eat in a day...!)

Drawstrings are a fair substitute for elastic, too.

ok. new project today. wife gave me an old waffle weave t-shirt to play with and made new panties for her.  Sorry mossimo for the destruction of a vintage shirt... I'm going to have to take that tag and restitch it.  
These (this) panties fit awesome!  Sorry no pics of wife wearing them.  Table pics only.  I think we still need to add a band on the top, and a crotch t-shirt stitching on for comfort,  but outside of figuring out the serger, 30min tops on cut and running the machine. and wife helped get the serger going. It took a bit of time to get the settings appropriate tensions and such on the serger, but once that was dialed in, all went brilliant,  I think it worked out. Honestly,This is an awesome way to have a personal experience with your partner. and re-appropriate unused materials you might have kicking around. Hope this post helps you all figure out your own ways about going about things, and perhaps make your personal relationships better
Cheers. P.