How to Sew Easy Mitered Corners
Learn to sew mitered corners & Make your own reusable fabric napkins!
Step up your holiday table settings with your very own fabric napkins. Not only are they pleasant to look at and use, but they're also a more sustainable, earth-friendly option, hold up better than paper napkins, and are an inexpensive project that makes the perfect gift! Once you learn how to make these easy mitered corners, you can also use them for other projects, including matching kitchen tea towels!
What are mitered corners? A mitered corner is a neat and professional way of finishing the corner of a fabric edge. Having the fabric at the hemmed corner join at a 45 degree angle reduces bulk and allows the material to lay flat.
To start, gather your supplies. You'll need:
◦ 1 yard fabric ** (makes 4 napkins) - pre-washed and ironed
◦ rotary cutter and ruler
◦ fabric pen or chalk
◦ straight pins or clips
◦ iron
◦ your sewing machine - threaded and ready to go
** Important fabric notes before you begin:
1 yard of a standard 44/45" wide fabric will make 4 napkins at approximately 16"x20" finished. We recommend a light weight linen, 100% cotton woven, or even quilting cotton for this project. You can also use Fat Quarters to create a coordinating set of different patterns!
Prewash your fabric in one piece before cutting to avoid shrinkage and warping in your final napkins. To prewash, add a running stitch along the cut/warp edges of your fabric before washing to avoid unravelling. For FQs, you’ll need to stitch around all 3 cut sides.
For this tutorial, we're using Warp Weft Wovens in Cayenne and starting with 18" squares for a 16" square finished napkin.
You can make these any size you wish. To get your fabric size, take your ideal finished napkin size and add 2 inches to both the width and height.
Some other example sizes to start with:
Dinner Napkin | finished size 16” x 20” — cut 18” x 22” or FQs
Lunch Napkin | finished size 13” x 13” — cut 15” x 15”
Cocktail Napkin Folded | finished size 10” x 10” — cut 12” x 12”
Cocktail Napkin Flat/Coaster | finished size 5” x 5” — cut 7” x 7”
Let’s get started!
Step 1:
Decide on your napkin size and cut your (pre-washed and ironed) fabric. Use your ruler and take your time to keep your fabric squared.
Step 2:
Measure 1” and 1.5” for all four edges of one napkin. Mark with your fabric pen or chalk. If you’re using a fabric with a right and wrong side, do this right side down, marking on the wrong side.
Fold the edges of the fabric to the 1” line and iron; repeat for all four edges. Make a second fold bringing the new edge to the 1.5” line and iron again; repeat for all sides.
Step 3:
Gently unfold your second crease at one corner. Measure 1” on each side and mark a line diagonally across the corner and over the first folds.
Step 4:
Pinch the corner, right sides together, to fold the corner over, lining up the edges. Your drawn line across the corner should be mirrored on each side. You may want to use a pin or clip to hold this together. Sew along this line, being sure to backstitch at the start and finish. Snip off the excess fabric at the corner 1/8th inch from your sewn line.
Repeat this for the remaining three corners of your napkin.
Step 5:
Fold your edges back over along the second crease you made earlier. Use a point turner, blunt pencil, or knitting needle to help turn your corners and ensure a nice point. Pin this second fold down or clip in place.
Step 6:
Stitch down the second fold 1/8” from the inner fold. Backstitch at the start and end to secure your threads and trim off the tails. Give your napkin a final press with the iron, and you’re done! Repeat for the remaining napkins to complete your set.
Congratulations! You now have a brand new set of lovely napkins!
Now that you’ve mastered this easy mitered corner, you can add a professional touch to all sorts of projects, from napkins to placemats, tablecloths, kitchen tea towels, or even for binding quilts with the backing fabric.
