How to Miter a Corner in Quilting
Mitered corners add an expert touch to any project by creating a framework around your quilt. These corners resemble the sections of a picture frame and while achieving this effect will make your quilt look like the work of an expert at the task, mitered borders are a finishing technique that are actually more intimidating than they are challenging. When you are finished, you will be amazed at the scope of your skills while you have enhanced the quality of your quilting.
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Things You'll Need
- Square ruler
- Common pins
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Spool of thread
- Quilting needle
- Tape measure
Instructions
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1
Measure the sides of your quilt. For the side borders, get the length by measuring through the center from the top to the bottom of the quilt. For the top and bottom edges, measure from side to side. These measurments will help you decide how long you need to cut your strips of bordering fabric.
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2
Determine the length needed based on the measurements of the project. Calculate side borders by using the measurement taken, adding the width of the size of the borders you want to make times 2 and then add 6. For example; if the quilt is 30 inches long and the borders are going to be 8 inches wide, you would cut fabric lengths by the simple equation of 30 + 9 + 9 + 6, which equals 54 inches. This is the length of the border strips that you need to cut. Do this for top and bottom edges and for the side edges. If the quilt is a perfect square then you only need to do it once and it will be the same size for all four borders.
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3
Mark the center of each border on your quilt with a pin. Mark the center of each border with a light crease.
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4
Sew the borders to your quilt at all four sides. Make sure that the center markers on the quilt edges and on the borders line up and that there are even lengths of excess border fabric at both ends. Stitch the fabric to the quilt beginning, ending each seam 1/4 inch from the border corners.
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5
Overlap the fabric at each corner. Use a ruler to create a straight 45 degree angle using the outer edges of the two border fabric lengths as a guide. This seam will determine where the two border fabric lengths should be matched up to meet for a perfectly mitered corner.
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6
Fold the ends of each strip in exactly at the marked 45 degree angle so that they are facing one another. Iron them down for a perfect crease.
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7
Pin the border ends to each other at the creased angle to begin stitching the two edges in place.
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8
Sew along the seam of the creased corners, starting from the stitches used to attach the borders to the quilt and continuing out until you have reached the edge of the new corner you have just created.
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9
Trim the excess fabric length leaving 1/4 inch allowance from the seam. The corners should be perfectly matched and mitered.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not trim excess fabric length until you are sure you have mitered the border corners evenly. If you are not happy with the outcome you can always do it over again, but once you have cut away your fabric, it will be very difficult to re-adjust if necessary.
Resources
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