The easiest way to sew mitered corners

Learn to sew mitered corners the absolute easiest way! In this tutorial, I’ll show you the fastest and most enjoyable way I’ve found to sew mitered corners on napkins, tablecloths, baby blankets, etc.

Mitered corners add a beautiful, professional touch to many items. The only problem with sewing them is that there are always at least 4 of them, and often a lot more, if you’re making something like napkins. So although our family has needed more everyday napkins for some time now, I was putting them off because of the time and tedium of doing all those mitered corners! I finally decided that I just wasn’t going to make them until I figured out a more efficient way. So I sat down and took some measurements and figured out a method that is quick and easy. We will be cutting off all the corners right at the beginning, without having to do a bunch of folding, ironing, unfolding, marking, and then cutting.

Supplies and materials

• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Woven fabric like linen (I made my napkins from the everyday linen from Pure Linen Envy, in the color Driftwood), quilting cotton, canvas, etc.
• Matching thread
• Pins
• Scissors
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler (optional)

Cutting out your fabric

Step 1 – First you need to determine the size of whatever it is you’re making, and add in the hem allowance on all sides. In this tutorial I’m sharing the measurements I figured out for the following hem allowances:

For my everyday napkins, I wanted them to be 12 inches, plus a 3/4 inch hem allowance, so I needed to cut a square that was 13 1/2 inches across.

Step 2 – Cut out your piece.

Cutting off the corners

Step 3 – Use the following table to determine the depth of the cut you are going to make.

First fold	Second fold	Hem allowance	Depth of cut
1/4 inch	1/2 inch	3/4 inch	7/8 inch
1/2 inch	1/2 inch	1 inch	1 1/8 inch
1/4 inch	1 inch	1 1/4 inch	1 1/2 inch
1/2 inch	1 inch	1 1/2 inch	1 7/8 inch

Step 4 – Measure the corner and mark it. I marked mine at 7/8 inch for a 3/4 inch hem allowance.

Step 5 – Cut the corner. If you have a cutting mat, you can use the 45 degree lines to help get it perfect.

Now use the corner you cut off as the template to cut the rest of the corners.

Ironing and pinning the folds

Step 6 – Iron the first fold to the wrong side.

Step 7 – Now you can iron and pin the second fold. I actually didn’t iron this fold because I find it just as easy to just pin and adjust a little as I’m sewing. Leave room around the corners so that you can sew them.

Sewing the mitered corners

Step 8 – Next is to fold the right sides together along the corner, like this:

Sew with a 1/4 inch seam allowance and repeat on all corners. You don’t need to trim the seam allowance as it’s already only 1/4 inch.

Step 9 – Trim the threads and use your thumb to open up the seam and turn the corner to the right side. Use scissors or a point turner to press out the mitered corner nicely. The second fold just goes into place, and I didn’t even iron!

Edgestitching the hem

Step 10 – Now edgestitch all around, pivoting at the miters. Make sure to look ahead to see that everything is staying in place. Especially with linen, it likes to shift, so the hem can get ahead of the rest of the fabric and push the mitered corner out of place. I hold the edge that I’m not sewing as I get close to it to make sure this doesn’t happen. Sorry for the blurry picture!

Step 11 – Now give it a final press, and you’re all done!

What do you think of this method to sew mitered corners? Do you have any mitered corner projects waiting to be done? Let me know in the comments below!

Looking for another easy project to sew for your home? Check out my post on a No Bias Tape Ironing Board Cover here!