• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Polka Dot Chair logo

  • SEWING
    • Free Sewing Patterns
    • Bag Patterns
    • Costumes
    • Apparel
    • Learn to Sew
    • Beginner Friendly
    • Embroidery Projects
    • Tips & Techniques
    • All Sewing
  • QUILTING
    • Quilt Blocks
    • Learn to Quilt
    • Free Patterns
    • Quilt Patterns
    • All Quilting
  • CRAFTS
    • Disney
    • Cricut
    • Printables
    • All Crafts
  • HOLIDAYS
    • Seasonal Projects
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • All Holidays
  • TUTORIALS
  • ABOUT
    • About Me
    • My Fabric Collections
    • Published Books
    • Press
    • FAQ’s
    • Contact
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • SHOP
menu icon
go to homepage
  • SHOP
  • TUTORIALS
  • SEWING
  • QUILTING
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • CRAFTS
  • HOLIDAY PROJECTS
  • ABOUT
    • Published Books
    • My Fabric Collections
  • CONTACT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • SHOP
    • TUTORIALS
    • SEWING
    • QUILTING
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CRAFTS
    • HOLIDAY PROJECTS
    • ABOUT
      • Published Books
      • My Fabric Collections
    • CONTACT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Crafts

    Cute & Easy DIY 4th of July Shirts

    Updated: Jul 5, 2020 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 13 Comments

    To help my kids celebrate the 4th of July, I made them some cute 4th of July shirts.   Today I thought I’d show you how to make your own Pocket Tees perfect for the 4th.

    They are super easy to make, all you need is some scraps of 4th of July Fabric. I’ll show you how to make 4th of July Shirts in two styles, a pocket tee, and an America Silhouette T-Shirt.

    White 4th of july shirt with blue USA outline

    When my kids were little I used to love picking out matching 4th of July family t-shirts for them to wear to celebrate. Now that they are all teenagers I know that the possibility of them all wearing matching tees on the fourth is, at best slim to none.  So I’m trying a new approach. I made them all patriotic pocket tees that I hope they will wear sometime during the week of the fourth *wink*.

    Table of Contents
    • 4th of July DIY T-Shirt Ideas
    • Supplies to make Fourth of July Shirts
    • Directions for the USA Silhouette Applique Tee
    • How to Make a Pocket Tee
    DIY Pocket Tee for the 4th of July - includes templates for the pocket and outline of the USA

    Fun Shirts to Make for the 4th of July:

    We are headed south for the holiday and I thought I’d take a little bit of inspiration from the southern prep shirts that my college daughter loves so much.  I started with simple plain t-shirts and added pockets and embellishments to make them cute 4th of July shirts.

    DIY Pocket Tee for the 4th of July - includes templates for the pocket and outline of the USA

    Today I actually have two 4th of July T-shirt ideas to share with you. You can use both of them on one shirt or pick and choose as you like. It’s up to you!

    4th of July DIY T-Shirt Ideas

    One:

    Create a Silhouette of the United States and Applique it to the back of a t-shirt.

    Two:

    Add a red white and blue pocket to the front of a tshirt.

    TIP: You can combine both of the ideas onto one shirt (i.e. a pocket on the front and a silhouette applique on the back).

    DIY Pocket Tee for the 4th of July - includes templates for the pocket and outline of the USA

    Supplies to make Fourth of July Shirts

    How to Get the Printable Pattern Pieces. You can get a copy of the pattern pieces used in this project in our Template Library. Access to the library is for our Newsletter subscribers, and subscriptions are free. Please visit this page and follow the instructions to get the pattern pieces. PLEASE READ the instructions on that page. NOTE: The PDF only contains the pattern piece; you still need to read this tutorial to complete your project.

    (includes affiliate links):

    – Fat Quarters of Red White and Blue fabric, try to find some stripes and some stars. For the USA outline, you’ll need almost an entire fat quarter. The pockets can be made from smaller pieces or scraps of fabric.

    -Pocket Template (download for free on templates page) -it’s the larger of the two templates

    –US Outline Template (download for free on templates page)

    -Sewing Machine

    -Paper Backed Fusible Web

    -Plain tees. I like to use the Comfort Colors brand, I buy them on Amazon, they are extra thick and are great to stitch onto.

    Directions for the USA Silhouette Applique Tee

    DIY Pocket Tee for the 4th of July - includes templates for the pocket and outline of the USA

    Print out the outline of the US and tape pieces together.

    Flip over and trace onto the paper side of the fusible web.

    DIY Pocket Tee for the 4th of July - includes templates for the pocket and outline of the USA

    Cut out loosely around the shape. Iron onto the wrong side of a piece of fabric.

    DIY Pocket Tee for the 4th of July - includes templates for the pocket and outline of the USA

    Cut out more precisely and peel off the paper.

    DIY Pocket Tee for the 4th of July - includes templates for the pocket and outline of the USA

    Iron onto the back of the t-shirt. Stitch around the edges to secure.

    DIY Pocket Tee for the 4th of July - includes templates for the pocket and outline of the USA

    How to Make a Pocket Tee

    Cut a 3″ x 7″ piece of fabric and a 7″ x 7″ piece of fabric from your supply of fat quarters.

    Stitch the two pieces together along the 7″ sides using a ½″ seam allowance. Press the seam open.

    Place the pocket template over the top of the seam between the two pieces and cut out.  Cut out a second piece the same size from another piece of fabric for the pocket lining.

    DIY Pocket Tee for the 4th of July - includes templates for the pocket and outline of the USA

    Next, put your two pocket pieces right sides together and stitch with a ½″ seam allowance. Leave 2″ opening in one side of the pocket to turn it right side out.

    Clip the corners and turn right side out and press.

    For a bit of extra detail, top stitch along the seam between the two pieces of fabric on the pocket front.

    DIY Monogrammed Pocket T-Shirt
    Photo is from a previous project, the construction steps are the same.

    Pin the pocket to the t-shirt in the desired location and stitch in place. Be sure to backstitch a few times at the top of the pocket.

    That’s it!! You’re done, easy peasy lemon squeezy!

    DIY Pocket Tee for the 4th of July - includes templates for the pocket and outline of the USA

    More 4th of July Craft Ideas:

    4th of July Craft Ideas

    How to Make Paper Pinwheels for the 4th of July

    Red, White and Blue Summer Pinwheel Quilt

    More Projects You May Enjoy

    • How to Make a Retro Diorama Ornament
    • How to Make String Christmas Ornaments
    • How to Make a Halloween Potions Centerpiece & Free Printable Potions Jar Labels
    • How to Make Fabric Kimekomi Christmas Ornaments

    • Share
    • Email

    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Margaret says

      June 25, 2015 at 11:11 am

      I am trying to find the US Outline Template on the Template page and it isnt there that I can see. Am I just not finding it or is it really missing? Thanks for any help you might have for me.

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        June 25, 2015 at 1:50 pm

        Sorry about that! Try again, hit command (or control), shift, R to force a refresh of the page… it just updated…

        Reply
    2. Rachel says

      June 28, 2015 at 2:24 pm

      I love this idea. Can you tell me what color the blue shirt is?

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        June 28, 2015 at 10:19 pm

        Sure it’s the dyed Navy…

        Reply
    3. Lauren. says

      November 20, 2016 at 10:23 pm

      So cute! I must make one! I recently got on a pocket hype!

      Reply
    4. Tambra Vandal says

      June 27, 2022 at 4:45 pm

      Thank you, just like you said……Easy Peasy diy 4th of July Shirt! Love making me one ❤️

      Reply
    5. Becky Ethington says

      July 04, 2022 at 9:43 pm

      How, exactly, did you stitch around the U.S. shape? Its on a t-shirt! I’d end up sewing the shirt shut

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        July 05, 2022 at 10:36 pm

        Oh I’m sorry! Most sewing machines have an arm that you can take off. Then you can feed the other side of the t-shirt under the arm and sew just the side of the shirt with the US shape.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello! It’s nice to meet you.

    I’m Melissa. I like to design things, like fabric, printables, and projects.

    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

    COPYRIGHT POLICY

    All my images and text are copyrighted. You may NOT use any images from this site in any kind of Video (this includes YouTube). If you would like to feature my work, you may use ONE (1) NON-COLLAGED image and must “follow” link back to my original blog post. You may NOT edit, crop, or change my images in any way without written permission. You MAY NOT print out or copy and distribute any text, images or patterns from this site. All patterns, content, instructions, and templates are for personal use ONLY! Thank you! Violators will be reported.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimers
    • About Melissa
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Press
    • Published Books
    • Fabric Collections

    Welcome to the Polka Dot Chair! Here you’ll find easy, step-by-step, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects. We design projects for Makers of all skill levels. Beginners are welcome!

    DISCLAIMER:

    While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content on this website, the information is made available without warranty of any kind. The Polka Dot Chair accepts no responsibility or liability, whether direct or indirect, as to the currency or accuracy of the information, nor any consequence of its uses. This website is not intended to substitute the advice of a professional.

    Copyright © 2022 Polka Dot Chair

    [ Placeholder content for popup link ] WordPress Download Manager - Best Download Management Plugin