How to Turn a Corner With a Shorter Stitch

Picture this: You’re sewing a straight stitch along a seam or fabric edge and you’re approaching a 90-degree corner. You get to the corner but realize you’ve sewn past your seam allowance because your stitch length is too long. 

So how do you sew a shorter stitch at the corner before rotating your work 90 degrees? We’ve got the secret to this common sewing issue and we’re sharing it with you today. In this Tips & Tricks video, we’ll show you two easy ways to shorten the last stitch in a seam and line it up with the corner. With a little practice, you’ll never struggle to sew perfect corners again!

We have two techniques to show you on how to shorten your stitch length at the corner. And don’t worry — you don’t have to adjust your machine settings. The first method is to use the reverse lever on your sewing machine. With the second technique, you don’t have to touch the reverse lever at all. You’ll hand crank your balance wheel to sink your needle exactly where you want it at the corner. 

Watch our short video below to see both of these techniques in action. Then test them out on your machine and decide which method you prefer.

What did you think of this sewing trick? Which method is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below. 

Do you have another way of sewing a shorter stitch at a corner? Share your sewing tips and tricks with us and with your fellow DIYers.

Are you looking for more useful sewing tips and techniques? Check out our Tips & Tricks page for blogs and video tutorials on our favorite sewing hacks. Discover the right way to use basting tape, learn how to sew binding around corners, find out how to taper pillow corners and much more.