How to Make Underwear for Little Boys

Cut off the hem of a T-shirt in youth size 5 or larger. Use a colorful, clean shirt without holes or fraying. Set the hem aside for use as a seam binding.

Print the attached pattern (Ref. 2) and cut out the four pattern pieces: front center, front back, leg A and leg B. Pin the four pieces to the shirt with sewing pins and cut out the pieces.

Open the hems from the T-shirt gently with your fingers. Insert the inside edge of the leg pieces into the middle of the hemmed material that you cut off from the shirt. Pin the hems in place to the legs with sewing pins. Repeat this step for the long, top edge of the front and back center pieces.

Insert a stretch, knit or ballpoint needle into your sewing machine and choose a "stretch" stitch or an angled, zig-zag stitching pattern. Stitch the hems to the four pieces with your sewing machine.

Lay the front center piece flat. Line up the back of the left leg with the back of the center piece so that their top edges line up. Pin the two pieces together with sewing needles. Sew along all pins and repeat the step for the right leg. Remove pins.

Measure the waist of the shorts you are using as a model, using a fabric tape measure, and cut a piece of elastic to fit the waist. Fold the elastic into a loop with a one-inch overlap and sew it to the outside top edge of the boxers to form an elasticized waist.