Stretchable gusset

A garment comprising:

• a front body panel;
• a back body panel;
• left and right leg portions;
• a crotch region positioned between the front and back body panels and between the left and right leg portions;
• a gusset panel comprising a front gusset panel edge attached to the front body panel by a stitched front seam and a back gusset panel edge attached to the back body panel by a stitched back seam, the gusset panel extending between the front and back body panels through the crotch region, the gusset panel comprising a left lateral gusset panel edge unattached to the front body panel and the back body panel and a right lateral gusset panel edge unattached to the front body panel and the back body panel;
• a left side cover panel extending between the front and back body panels through the crotch region of the garment and inward from the left leg portion;
• a right side cover panel extending between the front and back body panels through the crotch region of the garment and inward from the right leg portion;
• wherein the gusset panel, the left side cover panel, and the right side cover panel define an access space.

A method of making a garment, the method comprising:

• providing a front body panel, a back body panel, left and right leg portions, a gusset panel comprising a front gusset panel edge, a back gusset panel edge, a left lateral gusset panel edge, and a right lateral gusset panel edge, a right side cover panel comprising a right front cover panel edge, a right back cover panel edge, and a right outside cover panel edge, and a left side cover panel comprising a left front cover panel edge, a left back cover panel edge, and a left outside cover panel edge;
• sewing the front gusset panel edge to a lower edge of the front body panel;
• sewing the back gusset panel edge to a lower edge of the back body panel;
• leaving at least a portion of the left lateral gusset panel edge and the right lateral gusset panel edge unattached to any part of the garment;
• fixedly attaching the right front cover panel edge to the lower edge of the front body panel;
• fixedly attaching the right back cover panel edge to the lower edge of the back body panel;
• fixedly attaching the right outside cover panel edge to the right leg portion;
• fixedly attaching the left front cover panel edge to the lower edge of the front body panel;
• fixedly attaching the left back cover panel edge to the lower edge of the back body panel;
• and
• fixedly attaching the left outside cover panel edge to the left leg portion;
• wherein the left and right side cover panels at least partially overlap the gusset panel.