Thigh bands: just another fashion hype or a real lifesaver?
With the arrival of summer, like many women with curvier thighs, I switch to shorts, capris, trousers, and so on. I love dresses, but alas! A short walk in the heat is enough for the inner thighs to chafe until they're raw. In such a situation, every step becomes agonizingly painful.
No baby powders or creams help. In case of an absolute necessity to wear a dress, I have to wear thin, granny-style pantaloons underneath. But they are still hot, and they don't exactly add elegance. There is also the option of tight-fitting shaping shorts—these fit snugly, but their styles usually go almost up to the chest, which feels like wearing a space suit in the summer ((
I accidentally saw some interesting things for sale—thigh bands. I thought I could sew them myself; there's nothing tricky about it.
For sewing, you can use:
- elastic lace—personally, I don't really like this option, as sewing lace is quite problematic, and will it 100% prevent chafing? Although, lace thigh bands look very cute;
- lycra, elastane, nylon with elastane—these fabrics are very comfortable to sew, and the result will be simple but convenient;
- cotton with elastic bands—the most problematic option, but also the most "eco-friendly"; there's no beauty to it at all, but the result is 100% effective.
The pattern is the most elementary: you need to sew a tube based on the thigh circumference. Measure the size at the desired height on your leg.
Cut out a strip of the required width. Sew elastic tape along the edges.
If you don't want direct contact between your skin and the elastic, you can stitch a silicone tape onto it. Pin or baste it. Note: the seam should be on the outside, like on clothes for newborns, so that nothing chafes.
Be sure to try them on—the fabric stretches, and sometimes it's difficult to calculate the diameter correctly so that the item neither falls off nor constricts the leg.
If everything is fine, sew it up and wear it.
P.S. There are even simpler ways to make such devices:
- buy cycling shorts of the right size, cut off the "tubes," finish the top edge, and wear them—I think it's a pretty good solution;
- a similar option—but cut the tube from pantaloons; the beauty is conditional, but it's simple and fast.
Before cutting fabric for thigh bands, check stretch and recovery on a small piece: the band should stay in place without digging into the skin.
To be honest, I was already thinking about cutting up old tights) I have to try it, I really like the idea!