How to Sew Panties in 3 Simple Steps – Beginner’s DIY Tutorial
Ever looked at handmade lingerie online and thought, “Nope, way too complicated for me”? 😅
Well, surprise — it’s not! I’m Alyona, and I’ve been sewing underwear for as long as I can remember. I’ve taught loads of people how to do it, and trust me, I can teach you too.
People often make sewing underwear sound like rocket science (spoiler: it’s not). The truth? The fear is usually bigger in our heads than the actual project itself. Once you try it, you’ll realise how ridiculously simple it is.
Ready for some good news? You can make beautiful knickers in just three easy steps, and the whole thing will take less than 30 minutes. Yes, really. Tea might take longer to cool than your new panties will take to sew. ☕💃
Step 1 – Prepare Your Pattern and Fabric
Before you even thread your needle, grab your pattern and fabric.
And to make things even easier for beginners, I’m gifting you a free panty pattern — the comfiest style you’ll ever try.
By testing this pattern, you’ll see straight away whether underwear sewing is your thing (spoiler again: it probably will be).
Once you’ve downloaded it, print it out on A4 paper and check the little 5 × 5 cm test square to make sure it printed correctly.
Then, place the pattern on your fabric and outline just three elements:
- Front
- Back
- Gusset
Three elements, three steps — it’s like the universe wants you to succeed. ✂️
Place the pattern on the fold of the fabric (you’ll see a “fold” mark on the pattern), trace it with chalk, and cut it out using sharp scissors.
👉 If you’re a rotary-cutter-and-mat kind of person, skip the tracing and slice away directly. Front, back, gusset — done.
Psst! If you plan to take lingerie sewing seriously, check out Top 10 Sewing Supplies for Making Women’s Underwear (And Why You’ll Fall in Love With Them) — it’ll save you a ton of trial and error.
Step 2 – Sew the Seams
Now the fun (and slightly noisy) part — stitching!
Start with the crotch seam.
- Lay the back piece on top of the front, right sides together.
- Then, place the gusset on top of the back piece, wrong side up (so its right side touches the back piece).
- Align the crotch edges and sew.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re using an overlocker or a regular sewing machine — that seam will be neatly hidden inside like a cosy little sandwich. 🥪
After that, sew the side seams if you like — or skip them for now and jump straight to the elastic. Totally your call; both methods work perfectly.
I’ve tried both ways, and honestly, the result always looks flawless.
Step 3 – Sew the Elastic
Almost there! Once your crotch seam is done, sew the elastic around the leg openings.
If you chose to leave the side seams open earlier, now’s the time to sew them up — then finish the elastic around the waistband.
And… voilà! Three simple steps and your new panties are ready to make their debut. 💃✨
If you’re more of a visual learner, I’ve got a full video tutorial waiting below. It shows the perfect sewing-machine settings and even the exact needle size you’ll need. Your future self will thank you when your elastic sits perfectly flat (no wonky waves here!).
🧷 Final Thoughts
See? Underwear sewing isn’t scary — it’s just misunderstood. 😉
All it takes is fabric, a few seams, and some elastic love around the edges.
So grab your fabric, download the free panty pattern, and start stitching today. You’ll be amazed at how easy (and addictive) it is once you’ve tried it yourself.
And if you’re curious about fabrics, don’t miss What Is the Best Fabric for Sewing Panties? — it’ll make your next project even smoother.
