Festive July 4th T-Shirts

How to sew your own 4th of July t-shirts

The Fourth of July is just around the corner, a day to gather with friends and family, enjoy parades, fireworks, and good food while showing off your patriotic pride. What better way to celebrate than by creating your own custom patriotic t-shirt? Since I was a child, my mom would get us all matching 4th of July shirts for the annual parade and fireworks. I wanted to keep the tradition alive since I had my own family and made my own 4th of July t-shirts. This blog will walk you through a simple step-by-step sewing process to design festive 4th of July shirts. Whether you’re a sewing pro or just getting started, this sewing project combines creativity with fun for sewing enthusiasts like you.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started

Materials:

• Brother ScanNCut cutting machine for templates (the Brother SDX330D and SDX230Di includes a low tack mat. You can use the SDX85, however the low tack mat would need to be purchased separately)
• Brother low tack adhesive mat
• Brother sewing and embroidery machine
• A plain t-shirt
• Cotton fabric in blue and red (or your chosen colors) for appliqué
• Fabric marking tool (optional)
• Spray adhesive
• Pins
• Matching threads
• Parchment paper or copy paper
• Iron and pressing mat
• Scissors

Here’s your step-by-step guide to sewing festive 4th of July shirts!

1. Prepare your applique fabric

This t-shirt design is made using a slashed reverse applique technique. Start by preparing the applique fabric. Cut two squares (one blue and one red) that measure 8.5” x 8.5”, then cut those two pieces diagonally down the center.

Place one piece of the blue fabric right sides together with one piece of the red fabric and sew along the diagonal edge with a 1/4” seam allowance. Press the seam allowance open.

An electronic cutting machine can be used to cut an applique template from paper. I used my ScanNCut DX machine and chose a star shape from the built-in patterns. I sized the star to 8” x 8” then added some parchment paper to the low tack adhesive mat and cut the shape.

You can also find a star shape in a document or graphics program on your computer or search online. Set the size to 8” x 8” and print out a template. After trimming the template, lay it on top of your pieced fabric to decide how you want to position the star. I wanted the blue up in the top corner like an American flag.

2. Prep the t-shirt

Find the center of the shirt front (fold in half and press to get an easy line) and measure about 3” down from the collar. This is where you want the top of the appliqué to be. You can adjust, however, as you’d like.

Slide the appliqué fabric inside the shirt with the right side facing up. Position the fabric in the area where you want the applique to be sewn. Use a light layer of temporary spray adhesive to keep the appliqué fabric from moving. I sprayed mine on the front of the appliqué material. Place the star over the appliqué on the front of the shirt and pin so that the placement is where you desire.

3. Topstitch the star

Topstitch around the perimeter of the star using the template as your guide. You can trace the star on the t-shirt with a fabric marking tool instead of the paper template if you'd like. (I used thread to match my t-shirt for this step.)

Remove the pinned star template. Sew another line of topstitching just outside the first about 1/8” away (I used a contrasting thread this time).

4. Add interior stitching

Next, fill the star with rows of topstitching. I started at the top of the star and made my way to the bottom.

I moved my needle as far to the left as I could and used the edge of my foot as a guide for spacing the rows.

It should look like this when complete. If the sections are off a bit at the top or bottom, it’s no big deal.

5. Cutting for texture

Trim the applique fabric close to the outer stitch line to remove the excess material from the back of the shirt.

On the front of the shirt, cut down the center of each channel of stitching, taking care to only catch the t-shirt material.

I trimmed the strips a little more on each side but keep in mind that when you wash the shirt, the cut edges will curl a bit as well.

I did the same for the American flag shirt as above, but the appliqué was a flag.

• Measurements 6-¼” x 9” total.
• The blue star square is 4-¼” x 4-¼”.

I pressed the right side and bottom edge under ¼” for the blue star portion and topstitched it onto the red material.

Show off your DIY 4th of July t-shirts

With just a few supplies and these clear instructions, you’ll be crafting unique, festive 4th of July shirts in no time. Whether carrying on family traditions or starting new ones, your handmade creations will stand out at any celebration. Try this sewing project today and share your creations with other sewing enthusiasts by tagging us @BrotherSews!

Looking for more red, white, and blue projects? Try these DIY reusable dish covers or learn how to sew this patriotic picnic bag.

Wishing you a festive and craft-filled Independence Day!

FAQs

Q: Can I use other colors instead of red, white, and blue for these designs?
A: Absolutely! While traditional 4th of July colors are red, white, and blue, feel free to customize your t-shirts with any color palette that suits your style. Check out this upcycled t-shirt sewing project, or learn how to sew a V-neck line if you’re interested in more t-shirt projects.

Q: Do I need an embroidery machine for this project?
A: No, a regular sewing machine works perfectly for this project like our Brother CS7000X computerized sewing machine or our Brother Pacesetter PS300T computerized sewing machine. An embroidery machine can add more decorative details, but it’s optional.

Q: How will these shirts hold up after washing?
A: The appliqué fabric will fray and shrink slightly after washing, adding to your design's textured look. To maintain durability, wash your shirts on a gentle cycle.

Q: Can I make this with my kids?
A: Kids can help with non-sewing steps like choosing fabrics, cutting templates, or placing pieces. Adult supervision is required for tasks involving needles or machines.