Admittedly I’m a sweats and tee girl when it comes to lounging or sleeping. I know my husband’s not too happy about that. I’m not even too happy about that, so today all that will change, mostly.
This project is a great way to girlie up a basic sleep item you may already have around the house.
Even though there are a lot of steps, this is a really quick and easy DIY.
What youll need to make your lace boxers:
- White cotton boxers (I got mine at Target)
- Lace
- Button
- Needle and thread
- Sewing machine
- Fabric dye (I used Rit dye)
- Salt 1 cup
- Rubber gloves
If you use 100% cotton boxers, lace and thread you will be assured a more accurate dye color. Cotton is the easiest fiber to dye especially with Rit dye.
Step 1
Pin lace to the bottom hem of your boxers. I pinned mine on the inside very close to the edge. Make sure to over lap your lace by no less than a half inch, sometimes when you are sewing you will use more lace than when you are pinning so be very careful not to cut your lace too short.
Step 2
With your sewing machine very carefully sew the lace to the boxers.
Step 3
Cut the original button off of the boxers and using your needle and thread sew on your new button.
Step 4
Wash your boxers before you put them in the dye bath, this will remove any finishes on the fabric that might keep your dye from working properly. (You can do this quickly by washing them by hand with a small amount of laundry soap, just be sure to rinse thoroughly.) You will need to completely saturate them with hot water before you put them in the dye bath. They must be wet when you put them into the dye bath.
Step 5
Prepare your dye bath. Wearing your rubber gloves.
Fill your sink or a large pot with hot water. (I used my sink.) While your sink is filling pour the dye package into 2 cups of hot water and mix. This will ensure that your dye powder will dye your boxers more evenly.
Step 6
Pour the dye into your sink or pot that is filled with hot water.
Pour 1 cup of salt into the sink. The salt with help to “open†the fibers of your fabric so that they will dye faster and the color will be stronger. Mix everything thoroughly before you put your boxers in.
Step 7
Put your boxers into the dye bath. Make sure they are wet and open them up, you dont want them to be wadded up when you put them in the dye bath. Again this is to make sure they will dye more evenly.
Step 8
Keep moving your boxers around in the dye bath until they are the desired color. When you like the color pull them out and rinse them, squeezing out as much of the water as possible. Mine took the color very quickly probably no more than 5 minutes.
Step9
Wash and dry them according to their fabric directions.
Do you have any cute ideas for worn out cargo pants? I mean, a big old hole in the butt, so no good for cutoffs, but all the pockets are still good and cute in that cargo way. I kind of hate to throw them out.
There could be a lot of potential for old cargo pants. I think I’d have to see them to really give you a good idea. If you want to email me a picture I’d be glad to give you some ideas. cathy@trinketsinbloom.com
The more I think about it I bet you could make a really awesome bag with all those pockets. You’ll probably have to add some more fabric depending on your holes etc.
These are so adorable and would make great gifts for teen girls! Wonderful idea, thank you! I can’t wait to try it out!
Thanks Sara!
xoxo
Cathy