• Home
  • About
  • YouTube
  • Esty Shop
  • That’s Sew Cool!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

Paige Handmade

You are here: Home / Sewing Tutorial / Perfect Mitered Corner Napkins

Perfect Mitered Corner Napkins

in Sewing Tutorial on 05/30/21

The Cloth Napkin & It’s Perfect Corners

I needed a batch of cloth napkins for our everyday meals at the table. Napkins that weren’t “precious”; something you could use when you eat spaghetti. As I was looking at quilting cotton fat quarters, the idea struck me. I grabbed ten fabrics with some type of food item on them; grapes, sushi, pomegranates, bananas, sweets, pancakes, avocado toast, and sundaes. My kids had fun picking their favorites too.

You know me, I couldn’t keep a good sewing technique to myself. I documented the process for you too. We all could use or gift a set of cloth napkins, right?

The perfect mitered corner… it is easier than you think! I’ll show you the easiest way to get a crisp corner every time.

Video Tutorial

Find all the tools I used in this tutorial HERE.

Napkin Sizes & Cut Size

Cocktail (6×6″ with 1/2″ hem): cut 8×8″
Tea (12×12″ with 1/2″ hem): cut 14×14″
Lunch (14×14″ with 1/2″ hem): cut 16×16″
Dinner (20×20″ with 1/2″ hem): cut 22×22″
Formal (22×22″ with 1″ hem): cut 25×25″ (1/2″ turned once and 1″ turned again, like the yellow example below)

Video Screenshots (pausing at the right spot)

  1. Cut a perfect square. 16 inches for this example. Iron in 1/2″ on all sides.

2. Fold on the diagonal and match the folded edges exactly. Place you ruler along the diagonal fold.

3. Mark a line perpendicular to the diagonal fold where the raw edge of the hem meets the diagonal fold (OR at the 1 inch line as in the yellow example below *scroll down*)

4. Stitch the line you marked on all corners. Back stitch at the beginning and end of the stitching line. Clip off the excess fabric on a angle being careful to not cut too close to the corner. It should look like a little wedge.

5. Press open the seam with your fingers. This balances the seam allowance in the corner.

6. Turn and pop the corner out with something pointy but not sharp. This silver pointer isn’t specifically a sewing tool… something similar would be *this point turner.

7. Press the corners and edges.

8. Stitch close to the inside edge of the hem. Start in the middle of one of the sides.

9. Slowly stitch into the corner and stop right at the corner seam. Be very precise here. With the needle down, lift the pressure foot and turn the napkin. Lower the pressure foot and continue sewing until you get to the next corner. Sew until you reach your starting point, overlap 4-5 stitches and back stitch 3-4 stitches. Pull all the thread ends to the back side and trim.

Voila! Look at that pretty mitered corner. In this photo you can see where the seam allowance of the corners are. It looks balanced and smooth.

The Yellow Example (1″ hem)

The technique is exactly the same, but where you stitch changes. I marked a pink line to show where the 1″ fold would be. The point at which that pink line meets the diagonal fold is where your stitch line will be. You can adjust this to any point. Mark the hem you desire and find where it meets the diagonal fold. You will cut the excess exactly the same as the narrower example.

Go get creative and make a napkin you love!
-Paige

Related

4 Comments

My Sewing Recommendations: Paige Handmade Amazon Storefront*

*The products linked are all products I personally have used, enjoy, or are on my wishlist! Some links may be affiliate links. The affiliate links do not affect the price you pay, but they do provide a small compensation to me. I am a participant in the Amazon Associates Program.

« DIY Wedding Veil
Candy Stripe Dress – Simplicity 8546 »

Comments

  1. Teresa Arnold says

    October 7, 2021 at 12:29 pm

    Paige – you are a lifesaver! I have watched many videos on mitered corners and your instructions by far are the simplest to follow. Thank you so much for taking the time to post a video and written instructions on how to do this.

    Reply
    • Paige says

      October 9, 2021 at 10:39 pm

      You are welcome! I am glad I could help.

      Reply
  2. Marsha says

    March 25, 2022 at 6:42 pm

    After looking at a few other videos that made making napkins with mitered corners sooo complicated, I came across your video. Thanks so much for simplifying the process. L

    Reply
  3. LJL says

    April 29, 2022 at 11:43 pm

    I have tried following the video and the written instructions and it seems so simple, but I just can’t seem to get the corners to lie flat! They need to fold over themselves to get straight edges around the rest of the napkin and I just can’t work out what I am doing wrong. I have tried 6 times now and followed step by step pausing the video at every step, but I still can’t work out why my corners still need to fold over themselves (with bulk) to get them flat so the sides lay flat. Any ideas?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi! I'm Paige... Paige

...an elf who has achieved Master Tinker status. Give me a tool and I’ll make something! I am married to the coolest nerd and Mama to two girly girls.

My mission is to take the overwhelm out of projects, so you can go get creative and make something you love! a little more backstory…

Getting Started Sewing

How to Thread a Sewing Machine

"You crawl before you walk, you walk before you run." You thread before you sew. I tell people that sewing is just a collection of techniques strung ... View Post

Thread Tension & Troubleshooting

One of the most frustrating problems you may run into when learning how to sew is thread tension issues. The thread can be too tight and bunch up the seam or, ... View Post

Selecting Stitches on a Sewing Machine

Selecting a Stitch Sewing machines can come with a large assortment of stitch options. You'll see some with *50 stitches, *110 stitches, *240 stitches, and ... View Post

paigehandmade

Practicing using a narrow rolled hem foot and maki Practicing using a narrow rolled hem foot and making samples of the different sizes. 🪡
A skirt that looks good even when it is inside out A skirt that looks good even when it is inside out! Swipe to see the outside! 💕 

@mccallpatterncompany #m3830
Collapsible Shoulders! 🦾 This dress form is fro Collapsible Shoulders! 🦾 This dress form is from @theshopcompany. My blouse is the #saharmonytop from @stylearc.
A little fun bias binding on the vent of this skir A little fun bias binding on the vent of this skirt. ✨
Load More... Follow on Instagram

paigehandmade

Practicing using a narrow rolled hem foot and maki Practicing using a narrow rolled hem foot and making samples of the different sizes. 🪡
A skirt that looks good even when it is inside out A skirt that looks good even when it is inside out! Swipe to see the outside! 💕 

@mccallpatterncompany #m3830
Collapsible Shoulders! 🦾 This dress form is fro Collapsible Shoulders! 🦾 This dress form is from @theshopcompany. My blouse is the #saharmonytop from @stylearc.
A little fun bias binding on the vent of this skir A little fun bias binding on the vent of this skirt. ✨
Another pair of socks that deserve a solemate phot Another pair of socks that deserve a solemate photo. They are quirky and cozy. 🧦 

As always, the #imsobasicsocks is the foundation pattern.

#sockknitting #knitsocks #boxofsocks2023
Today I did my own plumbing work for our shower re Today I did my own plumbing work for our shower remodel. I was afraid to do it, but I spent a lot of time learning and preparing. The more information I learned the more I felt capable. The soldering made me nervous and my hands felt a little shaky, but I committed no matter the outcome. I followed all the steps (even if they aren't shown in this tiny video). John encouraged me and showed me how to turn our water supply off for the first time. This was a good exercise in being willing to try something new. I'm really proud! We turned the water on and it's holding tight! On to the next task. 🚿

#bathroomremodel #homerenovation #plumbing
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Paige Handmade