How to Miter Fabric Corners
Details
Details
When you sew canvas or another heavy material, you may have to fold each edge of your fabric twice to create a double hem. But that also creates a problem: super thick corners that are hard to work with. Luckily, you can miter the corners to get rid of some bulk. In sewing, mitering is a technique that creates sharp, 90-degree corners in a double hem by removing extra layers of fabric. It’s a simple method that even beginner sewers can master.
Why are mitered corners a good idea? For one thing, mitered corners look more polished and professional than non-mitered corners. Second, they hold hardware such as grommets and snaps better than non-mitered corners. See, a non-mitered corner in a double hem is nine layers of fabric — way too thick for most hardware pieces to fasten securely around. We recommend three layers as an ideal thickness to install hardware.
If you look up instructions for mitering on the internet, you probably won’t find many resources for outdoor applications. That’s because mitered corners are widely used in home projects such as cloth napkins and quilts, which are made of thin fabric. But don’t worry — it’s possible to miter thick outdoor fabrics. The steps are exactly the same for thick fabrics as for thin home décor material. You can miter corners on boat covers, tarps and other outdoor projects that may take a double hem.
In this video, our resident Project Guy, Eric, will show you how to make mitered corners — including using basting tape to keep unsewn hems in place. Although sewing mitered corners might sound difficult, it really is easy. To try this simple fabric hemming technique yourself, watch the video below.
Mitering is a great way to remove extra fabric from a corner, but it’s not the only way. To see another option for reducing bulky corners, check out our video on corner reduction in a double hem. Just search #300359XHT on Sailrite.com to find it.
Have you ever sewn a mitered corner? If so, what was your project and what type of fabric did you use? Share your experiences in the comment section below.