Mitered Corners Redux

This tutorial from Sew4Home gives very good instructions and I thought this was finally the one that was going to work for my project. But like the first ones I tried, I realized this technique would work only if the sides have been hemmed, as opposed to the raw edges I have.

This sample was made for our Citrus Holiday napkin project, but you can use it anytime you need a narrow hemmed corner.

1. Along all edges, turn right side under ¼" and press well.
2. Turn another ¼" all around and press well.
3. Unfold both ¼" turns so your fabric lays flat. You should be able to see the fold lines of both turns.
   
4. Fold the corner at a 45˚ angle so the point of the corner lines up with the intersection of the second set of fold lines. Press.
   
5. Fold corner a second time, again at a 45˚ angle. Press.
   
6. Re-fold your first ¼" turn along its original fold line and press well.
   
7. Refold along your second ¼" fold line and press. If you've been careful with your measurements, turns and pressing, this second re-fold will create a diagonal line where your two finished edged meet, making a neat split corner.
   
8. Edgestitch around all folded edges, back-tacking two to three stitches at each corner. Make sure your back-tacking crosses over the split corner to help this split say closed.
   
9. Press from the front to finish.
   
   

Mitered Corners

My first sewing project are table napkins and for the past couple of days, I have been struggling with mitered corners. The original size of the first table napkin I'm working on is 18 inches, but due to all the errors I've been making, it's now down to 10 inches! Thankfully, I'm using roll-end fabrics that don't cost much. I think I finally got the technique I need for this particular project from Sweet Tea and Pearls. I am so glad as I was getting really frustrated. This was the second option I was considering but Sweet Tea & Pearl's technique gave sharper miter corners for me.

Turn down 1/2" towards the wrong side of your fabric on each side and press.

Now, turn down 1" and press again. Place a pin on each side where the fabric intersects.

With right sides together, fold your napkin on the diagonal so that the pins meet, having edges even.

Draw a line from the pins to where the creases meet on the fold line. Stitch along this line backstitching at the beginning and end of the seamline. Do this on all 4 corners.

Cut the corners to about a 1/4" seam allowance on all corners.

Open up the napkin and lay it flat so that you can press open the seam allowance on each corner.

Now, turn corners back in and press making sure your corners are sharp.

Stitch close to the edge of each side. Press your napkin and you're ready to go!

Poinsettia

This poinsettia was a Christmas gift from a co-worker who is so good with plants that his desk is like a mini-garden. I'm glad that the plant is still alive! I put it by the window once in a while so it gets some sun.

In the spring, I hope to plant Lady's Mantle, named after the Virgin Mary's cloak because of its scalloped leaves. A co-worker gave me a cutting a few months ago and the yellowish-green flowers had a very light scent and looks similar to baby's breath.

Surprise!

My in-laws surprised me with this baby last week. I still haven't decided what to sew as my first project. I haven't used a sewing machine ever so I have to practice using it and trying the different stitches available. I don't want to start sewing until I finish a knitting project I'm working on.