How to Sew Mitered Corners (The Easy Way!)

Learn how to sew mitered corners with this easy method that produces polished, professional results every time! Use this step-by-step photo tutorial to guide you every step of the way.

Sewing mitered corners used to intimidate me–until I learned a clever shortcut method for making the task a breeze! Today, I’m going to show you use to sew mitered corners with professional results every time. This technique is perfect for making cloth napkins, blankets, or even burp cloths and other baby essentials.

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For today’s post, I am demonstrating how to sew mitered corners with a DIY fabric napkin project, but this same process will work any time you want to stitch a tidy mitered corner on any square or rectangle of fabric with an unfinished edge. Before you get started, you’ll need to have the following supplies on hand:

• Fabric piece
• Iron
• Seam gauge
• Marking pen
• Shears
• Coordinating thread
• Sewing machine

Check out my handy list of must-have sewing essentials.

How to Sew Mitered Corners (My Fool-Proof Shortcut Method)

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Place the fabric piece face down on a work surface. Using an iron and the seam gauge, fold up the top and bottom raw edges of the fabric piece by 1/4″. Press. Fold the same edges up by another 1/4″ and press again. Depending upon the weight of the material you are working with, use a good amount of steam to ensure all of the pressed lines are very crisp. Next, fold the remaining left and right edges of the piece and press in the same fashion. When you are finished, the corners of your pressed piece should look like this:

Open up the pressed folds. (This is why I recommended in the first step to apply a very generous amount of team as you press, since that will help make the pressed folds easier to see.) Use the marking pen to trace the two pressed lines along each adjoining edge, forming a hashmark where the lines intersect, as seen below. (As you become more familiar with this method, you might be able to skip this step, but it is very helpful as you get the hang on things!)

Use the shears to trim away the corner of the piece at a 45-degree angle, so that the square formed by the intersecting pressed lines is cut precisely in half. 

Fold the raw edge of the trimmed corner up by 1/4″, aligning the pressed seams so that the remaining sides of the square you trimmed in half are precisely aligned with the innermost pressed crease (see below). Press lightly to prevent pressing out the other folds.

Fold the left edge along the previously pressed creases, as seen below…

…before folding the right edge along its pressed creases. Press everything well.

Secure the pressed corner, either by pinning, or (my favorite handy method!) with a hair clip.

Repeat the preceding steps at the remaining 3 corners of the piece. When everything is pressed and secured, stitch around the entire perimeter of the fabric about 1/8″ from the inside folded edge, pivoting at the corners. Give the finished piece another good pressing before taking as step back to enjoy your beautifully mitered corners! (I somehow missed taking a finished photo of the project made with the red and white fabric above, but this blue ticking fabric was done with exactly the same method.)

 

Once you see that sewing mitered corner is super simple with this easy method, you’ll want to add mitered corners to all the things! I love to make my own cloth napkins with this process. Ticking fabric is perfect for this, as it is durable and just the right weight for everyday use.

And now you will never again have to wonder how to sew mitered corners with professional, polished results every time!