How to Sew a Mitered Corner

Corners in sewing are tricky, they can look clean and professional if you put the effort into them. Here is a step by step sewing tutorial on how to sew a mitered corner. 

A mitered corner can be sewn in a variety of areas in a garment. Commonly seen at the hem intersecting with the center front opening of a garment or perhaps at the hem at the back opening vent.

Step 1

On the right side of your garment, mark your hem seam allowance or your fold in line. It is OK if the two are not the exact same measurement. Most likely your hem is larger in measurement. Please refer to your pattern for hem seam allowance. In this example, I am using 1".

Step 2

Press your marked hem seam allowance back, one at a time. Once pressed, you will get an intersecting point or what will become the corner of the garment.

Step 3

Right sides of fabric facing each other, line up pressed lines as shown below.

Pin pressed lines in place, and mark where the intersecting point is exactly.

Step 4

With an L ruler or anything that will give you a right angle, line up 90 degree corner to intersecting point as shown below and mark sew line.

Step 5

Sew marked line at 1.5 stitch length. Ensure you sew all the way to the intersection point exactly.

Step 6

Trim seam allowance down to 1/8".

Step 7

Flip corner inside-out and poke corner until it looks as close to a right angle as possible. If it is looking bulky, go back and trim off more seam allowance from step 6.

To create a super clean look to easy fray fabric, finish the raw edges prior to completing any of these steps. An easy way to finish the raw edges would be to serge.

(Exterior View)

(Interior View)

​Happy Sewing!
Photographed and written by Sheila Wong Studios