How To: Sew Mitered Corners

If you want to make your cloth napkins, table runners, etc. look more professional; try your hand at mitered corners. It's easier than you may think.

Step 1: Here's What You Need:

- Basic sewing knowledge.

- Sewing Machine.

- Fabric Scissors.

- Fabric for your project (napkin, table runner, or anything that has overlapping corners). I am working on a table runner.

- Thread.

- Iron and surface to iron on.

- Pins (optional). I don't use pins very much, but if you are used to sewing with pins: then have enough pins to pin your fabric along the way as you normally would.

Step 2: Fold + Press

Start with your fabric wrong side up. Fold up your fabric hem on both sides (see photo above). Usually you would fold the hem 1/2 inch twice for a 1 inch seam allowance, or 1/4 inch twice for 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Press the fabric with your iron so there is a nice crease.

Step 3: Unfold + Cut

Unfold the seams. Notice the creases. Starting at the top corner of your fabric and going down there are 2 intersections. You can mark these for easier reference, but it is not necessary. Fold the corner down so the first intersection is over the second intersection. The crease lines should match up. Cut off the corner straight across the first intersection.

Step 4: Fold + Sew

Fold over your edges again, the same way you did in the first step. Your corner should look like the first photo here. You can either stick a pin in it to hold, if you wish, or press again with the iron, then repeat on all four corners. Once you have all the corners done, stitch along the edges all the way around and you're done!

Now, step back and admire your work!

Comments

[SunriverDeb]

Hello: I am trying (the first time) to make dark navy napkins for a friend who asked for that color. What can I do to mark the corners or places I need to cut when I cannot see all the creases? Is there a bright color pen I can use that disappears? The blue one I have of course I cannot see those marks. I am a beginner sewer and would appreciate your suggestions.

[LyndsB]

Yes, you could use tailors chalk. It comes out with water. It comes in lighter colors like white or yellow that would probably be more visible on the darker fabric.

[Lalice013]

Is there another post of this miter sewing?pls?

[LyndsB]

Hi Lalice013! Thank you for your interest! This is currently the only post I have on miter sewing. Do you have a specific question that I could try to help you with?