Sewing a wide elastic band onto boxer shorts using your sewing machine

Clean finish with a simple sewing machine (no overlocker or coverstitch machine)

Introduction

Achieving a clean, strong, and professional finish on men's boxer shorts is entirely possible with a simple sewing machine.
The key lies in good preparation and a mastered assembly method.

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Step 1 — Measure and calculate the length of the elastic

• Mesurez le tour de taille du boxer : mesurez directement la ligne supérieure du patron (n’oubliezz pas d’ajouter la pièce formant la poche).

• Remove approximately 5 to 7 %.

• Add 1 cm of overlap at each end for assembly.

👉 Example:
Length measured on the pattern = 80 cm
Elastic = 80 × 0.93 (7%) = 74.4 cm

+ 2×1 cm = 76.4 cm

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Step 2 — Close the elastic

• Overlap the two ends 1 cm.

• Stab at Tight zigzag stitch with your sewing machine, making two back-and-forth stitches to reinforce the seam

couture boxer

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Step 3 — Mark the landmarks

• Divide the elastic in 4 equal parts.

• Do the same on the top of the boxer.

• Pin or notch.

Goal: to distribute the filling evenly.

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Step 4 – First Stitch (Assembly)

• Place the elastic band against the wrong side of the fabric (wrong side elastic against wrong side boxer).

• Match the markers.

• Gently stretch the elastic between each marker.

 

Overstitch

Assemble 1 cm from the edge with:

• one Point stretch

• length maximum Stretch stitch: makes sewing easier and the stitch will visually be comparable to a straight stitch.

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Step 5 — Trim excess seam allowance

• Trim the excess fabric flush with the seam.

👉 Résultat : aucune surépaisseur inutile , aucun tissu ne doit dépasser du bord de l’élastique → finition plus nette.

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Step 6 – Fold down the elastic

• Return the elastic to the boxer shorts.

• It comes to cover the previous seam.

 

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Step 7 — Topstitch

• Perform a topstitch on 2 mm from the bottom edge of the elastic and approximately 5 mm from the previous seam line.

• Still at the stretch point.

 

 

Video Inside Out

Precision tip:
Stitch from the area for a flawless visual finish.

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Final result

On-site:

• two regular parallel lines

• Clean and professional finish

✔️ On the wrong side:

• no excess thickness

• no unsightly visible excess stitching

• Clean finish, high-end ready-to-wear type

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Conclusion

With this method, you get a finish Clean, comfortable and durable, without industrial equipment.
This is an ideal technique for your boxers made on a classic machine, while maintaining a premium quality level.