Update any T-shirt with a cloth-napkin pocket

Is there anything more comfortable and universal than a T-shirt? You can dress it up, dress it down, throw it on and embellish it to fit your mood. If you're browsing your collection of T-shirts and wishing for a new way to freshen them up, this tutorial is for you. Easily add a pop of color or pattern to your favorite T-shirt with a pocket made from a cloth napkin.

The pocket we end up with for this project measures 3-by-3 1/2 inches. We also used a 1/4-inch seam allowance on the sides and bottom, and a 1/2-inch seam at the top. Follow our directions exactly to recreate that size of pocket or, if you find that your T-shirt is better fitted with a different-sized pocket, you can follow the general directions, adjusting to fit your desired size.

Materials
- T-shirt
- Fabric marker
- Cutting mat
- Rotary cutter
- Cloth napkin
- Ruler
- Fabric scissors
- Sewing machine
- Serger -- optional
- Straight pins

Instructions
1. While wearing your shirt, mark where you would like the pocket to be placed. Try marking where the top line of the pocket and the corner will go.

2. Fold the cloth napkin in half lengthwise with the right sides facing each other. Use the rotary cutter to trim the shorter side seam off the body of the napkin. Using the trimmed line, cut a piece of fabric measuring 3 1/2-by-4 1/4 inches.

3. Lay out the piece you just cut with the wrong side up and the shorter sides on the top and bottom. Mark each side 3/4 of an inch from the bottom. Fold the piece in half lengthwise with the wrong side facing out. At the center fold, draw a line connecting to the marks you just made. This should create a point at the bottom.

4. Serge around the edges of the piece. If you don't have a serger available, sew around the edge using a zigzag stitch.

5. Turn your side and bottom edges 1/4 inch and pin. On the top edge, fold over 1/2 inch and pin.

6. Sew around your pinned edges.

7. Position your pocket where you marked, and carefully pin it into place.

8. Sew along the sides and bottom of the pocket. Be sure to get close to the edges for a cleaner finished look.