A Rash from Underwear?!

I've been compelled to put aside my knitting projects to sew for my son.  Yes, I'm knitting for him, but when the Disney underwear gave him a rash on his lower back at the waistband, sewing moved up the priority list.  There's nothing like an under-2 boy saying, "Ow, mama, ow" to motivate you!

I had found a free pattern for briefs online when I thought the store-bought ones would be too big, and dug through my bookmarks to find it.  I decided to use it to make "bikini" briefs w/o a fly, because I have to pull his pants down anyway.  The first problem I had was that they don't list how much material is needed, so I printed the pieces and brought them with to lay on the fabric.  I went with 1/4 yd. (though after doing a lot of cutting, I've decided that 1/3 yd. would be better, cuz the cutting was a scoach tight a few times due to the fabric not being entirely straight), and I bought 4 solids and 4 patterned to mix and match.  The first two attempts at cutting resulted in a piece of fabric that couldn't wrap all the way around him, but on the third try I had the sizing right, so I traced the shape onto a piece of paper.  The online pattern was, for me, just a starting point.

The first pair, on a store-bought cloth trainer.

When I sewed that first one, I found some problems with the fit.  I hadn't made the waistband and leg bands wide enough, so they were difficult to sew, and there was also the ever-present (with trainers and underwear from the store) gap in the leg holes, so that when he sat you could see his whole package.  I widened the bands, and made the leg bands shorter, so they'd draw the leg in more, but I also took some inspiration from daddy's drawer.  Hmm, I found they aren't cut straight, but on a curve, which creates a comfy "pouch".  I can do that!  I made my pattern to have only two seams - one down the center front, and one to connect the front and back crotch - by putting the center back on a fold.  Add the curve, and voila!  The second and third pairs, sewn at the same time, came out perfectly!

The second pair on the first, and my home-made pattern.

10 to sew! (right edge is on the fold)

Happy comfy boy!

Now I have pieces for 10 more pairs cut out ( I found I got about 3 pairs cut per 1/4 yd [next time 1/3 yd] but that's for a boy who still wears 12 mo. pants), and when I have more 1/2" elastic, I'll get them all sewn in a day.  In the meantime, he's wearing the soft (and baggy) cotton trainers.  I hope to share my pattern and instruction on here, for anyone else who is searching for a pattern for some soft undies for their little man.  I just need to figure out how to get the pattern piece on here...