Pattern Review -- First Choice Boxers
Sometimes, you find a pattern that's the convergence of a lot of greatness -- good paper (instead of thin brown wrinkled tissue), good instructions, and a good outcome. TimberLane Press' First Choice Boxers #404 are all those things, and they're FUN to make. They're *real* boxers -- not like the Kwik Sew ones that have a seam up the middle of the butt. And they only take about a yard of fabric and some elastic. 
Four cuts -- two fronts, two sides, one back, and one fly flap. The cutting does take a while, but the rest of the pattern makes up for it. The seams are all flat-felled -- a seam I hadn't used much, but now I am in love with. You basically sew with WRONG sides together, then cut one side of the seam allowance in half, and then roll the wider side over the side you just cut. Voila! They look so professional, and they're really sturdy.
It took me about two hours to do the actual construction on each pair (I made two), but I trust I'll get a little quicker as time goes on. In both cases, I got a little gap at the bottom of the fly, and I'm still not sure why, but I did a quick little bar tack over that, and they're just fine. 
Most importantly, Spud loves 'em. This pattern gets a huge thumbs up from me, especially since I got it for TWO DOLLARS at my local sewing shop!
