Learning to sew mitered corners: Placemats, napkins, or tablecloths practically cry out for neatly finished mitered corners. I'll show you how it works, nice and easy.
The most important things at a glance
- Mitered corners are corners that are folded twice inward and stitched diagonally
- They create a clean finish on table linens, clothing, side slits, and much more
- Even beginners can conjure up beautiful, clean mitered corners in no time with these instructions
- Sewing time: 5 - 10 min.
Are mitered corners only for professionals? What nonsense. Mitered corners are absolutely cool. And do you know why? Because with their help, you can turn the trendiest fabrics into beautiful tablecloths, placemats, curtains, and napkins.
What is a mitered corner?
Mitered corners are also sometimes called envelope corners. A mitered corner is a way to finish corners neatly and flat. It is used especially for fabrics that have little or no stretch. With this finishing technique, the raw fabric edge disappears inside the hem. The corner is stitched diagonally and then turned right side out.
Which sewing projects do I sew with a mitered corner?
Mitered corners can be found on tablecloths, curtains, table runners (also take a look at my tutorial Sewing a table runner), placemats (you can find a tutorial with a free pattern in the post Sewing a placemat), napkins, but also on clothing. Here they form a nice, clean corner finish for skirts, slits, pocket flaps, and more. A very simple version of the mitered corner can be found in the sewing tutorial Sewing a fabric bag.
Well-sewn mitered corners look classy and high-quality. But they can do more than just look good: due to the double-folded hem, they stabilize the finished sewing project.
And even if that sounds challenging at first: such a mitered corner is not witchcraft at all and is also quite easy to manage for beginners. You will see, once you have neatened your first corner this way, you will practically burst with pride!
How do I sew a mitered corner?
Basically, the hem is just ironed twice to the wrong side and the corner is stitched. It is important that you use thread that matches your fabric. In the example, I used a dark thread so that you can see the seams well.
However, the seams are under some tension after turning the corner. This can cause the thread to show through the fabric. A thread in the color of the fabric (or 1 - 2 shades darker) is therefore a good idea.
Find out now in the blog post Sewing hems which 20 types of hems you need to know.
What accessories do I need to sew a mitered corner?
You need your prepared fabric with a total hem allowance of 3 cm per edge. To start, I find light to medium-weight woven fabrics such as linen or cotton fabrics recommended because they don't distort. That gives sewing beginners an immediate sense of achievement. But advanced sewers also enjoy the crisp corners that are created when sewing with cotton fabrics.
- Patchwork ruler*
- Textile marker*
- Pins*
- Rotary cutter*
- Cutting mat*
- Sewing machine
- Fabric scissors*
- Thread scissors*
- Sewing machine* (read more here about my Juki DX7)
Little tip: I use mitered corners on many occasions. Especially when I want to sew a whole set of napkins or placemats, I prepare an ironing template out of cardboard with corresponding markings. I find that much easier than having to fiddle around with a ruler.
Video tutorial
Pictorial tutorial: Sewing a mitered corner
Here is my quick sewing tutorial, with which you will conjure up beautiful and super clean mitered corners in the future, wanna bet?!
You should take a corresponding seam and hem allowance into account in your planned sewing projects. For example, if you want to sew a 50 x 50 cm napkin, your fabric pieces should be 56 x 56 cm.
Of course, you can also sew the hem wider; that depends entirely on your personal taste. I find a 1 cm wide inward-ironed fabric edge and a 2 cm wide hem very practical and versatile.
Place the fabric with the wrong side facing up. On my ironing template, I have marked a few hem widths that I like to use. For the mitered corners, I need the 1 and 2-centimeter markings.
Iron the hem 1 cm inward on both sides of the corner.
Now iron the hem again on both sides of the corner inward for another 2 cm.
To do this, fold the fabric crease of the first hem toward the 2 cm mark.
I have traced the ironed folds with a textile marker so that you can see them well.
This is what it should look like now:
Turn the fabric so that the right side is now facing up.
Fold the corner over to the right so that the ironed edges meet nicely. The corner of the 2 cm mark hits the fabric crease exactly.
Iron the fabric crease of the corner vigorously and with steam.
You can now see the diagonal ironed crease well. That is the line along which we will stitch the corner in a moment.
Place the fabric in front of you with the right side facing up.
Fold the ironed corner with the 1 cm wide hem turned inward together right sides together and pin it in place.
Stitch the corner exactly on the ironed line with a straight stitch. Secure the beginning and end of the seam.
This is what it should look like now:
Trim the seam allowance to 1 centimeter.
Trim the seam allowance at the corner to just before the seam.
Why do we do this? In this way, the corner can be nicely shaped after turning it right side out.
Fold the corner apart so that the seam lies in the middle.
Press the seam allowances open.
Now you can turn the corner right side out, shape the tip, and press everything well.
If you like, you can topstitch the hem narrowly with a longer straight stitch. This works wonderfully with an edgestitch foot, for example.
In the picture, you can see the clean seam line: the edgestitch foot ensures a very even narrow distance from the edge.
When you have arrived at the corner while sewing, let the needle pierce exactly into the corner seam. Leave the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot, turn the fabric, and continue sewing. Make sure that you guide the foot of the presser foot along the edge again.
And now do more of it! :)
Video tutorial: Sewing a mitered corner yourself
Let me know how you liked this tutorial. I look forward to your comment.
Happy simple sewing, your Sabine
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