mesh undies

On these hot summer days we could all use a little help cooling down.
For me, wearing shorts to work isn't an option (office-dwellers, can you feel me?), going commando=no, and I'm not wearing a kilt. What's a guy to do?

Hello mesh undies.
A moisture-wicking mesh fabric underwear for increased air-flow.


Typically, underwear are made from cotton (or a cotton-blend) which helps with breatheability and comfort. To make mesh undies the material selected must have these same characteristics, otherwise someone is going to have some unhappy junk.

Mesh fabric comes in a few different varieties. There's a blend that is mostly polyester (used for sport pinnies) which is not what we need. This type is mostly polyester and will inhibit air flow and trap heat, even with the perforations.
I choose a mesh material with synthetic microfibers that wick moisture away from the body with a blend of spandex, the same type they use for cycling jerseys.

This instructable is entered in the Summer Sewing Contest
^{Remember to vote for your favourites!}

enough talk, let's make some underwear!

Step 1 Tools + materials

For these undies I used:

tools: needle + thread (or sewing machine) chalk (or pencil) scissors seam ripper

materials: old underwear (or pattern) mesh fabric (moisture wicking microfibers) strip of fabric elastic

Comments

[Sagi]

Very good idea for summer! :-D
thank you!

[triciab1212]

very cool (no pun intended!) You're the only person i know who would put a tag back on :D

[rennoc]

lol- now you can pee yourself without getting you your underwear soaked- just getting you legs, pants, socks, and possibly shoes wet... Really- great instructable........ really, it could help alot of people

[Iridium7]

Now if you combine this with Threadbangers T-shirt cooling tutorial and make some breathable shorts...yeah

[zoebatty]

Great instructable. Thanks for taking the time to posting this. I do have a question for you. Where did you purchase the mesh fabric? I'm having a problem finding a cotton blend mesh. I can find the polyester, but not the cotton. Thanks again.

[mikeasaurus]

I found this fabric at a local fabric warehouse, they had a few varieties to choose from (though all in white). You could try a larger fabric outlet, shouldn't be too hard as wicking-mesh is becoming more and more common in sports clothing.

To be clear, the mesh used in this instructable is made from polyester; however has been treated with synthetic microfibers that aid in wicking. The store clerk told me this type had cotton in the blend, however further research revels that wicking microfibers are typically a blend of poly/spandex. I think the clerk was mistaken, I have revised my instructable (thanks for the heads up!).
Really, the wicking action is what is important, and the perforations don't hurt either. You just don't want 100% straight-up poly.

Hope this clears things up, good luck!

[onrust]

Interesting post. I would honestly say they look cooler but they are just not my style.