Sewing Corners: How to Sew Corners with Ease

Learning how to sew corners neatly is an essential beginner sewing skill used in garments, quilts, bags, pillows, collars, straps, bows, and countless sewing projects. Sharp corners can instantly make sewing projects look more professional, while bulky, uneven corners can spoil the finished result. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to sew corners step by step, including: 90-degree corners, sharp points, narrow collar points, inside corners, and mitered corners. You’ll also discover the best turning tools, trimming methods, and pressing tips for crisp, professional-looking corners.

Why is Sewing Corners Important?

Corners appear in many sewing projects, including collars, cuffs, pockets, quilts, and pillows. Neatly sewn corners look professional and reduce bulky edges. You will find that if you don’t trim your corners properly, the fabric bunches, leading to rounded points.

If you are learning beginner sewing techniques, read the full How to Sew a Seam guide to improve seam accuracy and sewing control.

How to Sew Corners (Step by Step)

1. Mark the Seam

If you are a beginner, then drawing the seam line at the corner with chalk or a removable pen will help you to predict when to pivot.

2. Sew and Pause

Sew normally along the seam line until just before the corner. As you approach the corner slow right down.

3. Pivot

Stop at the corner with the needle down in the fabric. Lift the presser foot and pivot the fabric right round to face the new direction. Start sewing normally again.

4. Trim the Corner

Once you have sewn the corner, you will need to trim some of the bulk of the fabric away before you turn it the right way out.

Sewing Different Types of Corners

90 Degree Angles

90 degree angles are really common in sewing corners. Think about the corners of pillows, quilts, and bags. For a 90 degree angle, just snip the point of the corner off.

If your seam allowance is wider than 1/4 inch (6mm) you can trim a bit off the sides at an angle too. For narrow seam allowances, this is not usually necessary.

Sharp Corners

Sharp or smaller corners, such as those found on collars, may require a little extra trimming to remove excess fabric. If your fabric is thick or you have a lot of layers, you may need to grade the seams as well.

Extra Narrow Corners (Points)

For very narrow corners, you will also get a better result by stitching across the corner a couple of stitches to lessen the point and to leave room for the seam allowance when it is turned the right way.

Inside Corners

For inside corners, you will need to snip into the corner almost up to the stitching line.

Turning Tools for Sewing Corners

The last step in sewing corners is to turn your corner the right way out. Use something pointy (but not sharp) to poke the corner out, and always press well.

I have a bad habit of using my scissors as they are always handy but be careful if yours have a sharp point as you may accidentally cut the fabric or poke a hole through the end. Most paper scissors aren’t overly sharp at the end.

A knitting needle, bamboo skewer, or a specialized point turner will usually do a better job. You will generally need a selection of tools of different lengths and thicknesses on hand for different projects.

There are numerous brands of point turners on the market, including the popular Dritz and Clover, and most are really cheap. Some have markings on them so as to double up as button and seam gauges. Fewer tools to lose in your sewing room! So with your special or improvised tools, here is what all our corners now look like, now that they are the right way out.

Sew a Corner that is Mitered

There is another type of corner you can sew: a mitered corner. This applies to a 90 degree corner that needs to be hemmed or have binding applied. As the item will not be turned the right way out after being sewn twice, there are different techniques that need to be used.

There are 2 different techniques that can be used depending on whether the corner has a narrow or wide hem. The narrow hem has an opening on the diagonal of the corner, while the wider hem has the diagonal sewn shut.

Common Sewing Corner Mistakes and Tips

Common Mistake	Tip for Better Results
Corners look bulky after turning.	Trim seam allowances diagonally.
Sharp points look rounded.	Remove extra seam bulk carefully.
Stitching overshoots the corner.	Slow down before pivoting.
Fabric puckers around corners.	Press carefully after turning.
Inside corners pull tightly.	Clip close to the stitching line.
Thick fabrics refuse to lie flat.	Grade seam allowances first.
Sharp tools poke through the fabric.	Use blunt turning tools instead.
Uneven corners distort the project shape.	Mark seam lines before sewing.

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Sewing Corners FAQs

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How to Sew Corners – In Conclusion

Learning how to sew corners properly is one of the easiest ways to improve the quality of sewing projects. Accurate pivoting, careful trimming, and proper pressing create crisp, professional-looking corners on garments, bags, quilts, collars, and home décor. Once mastered, sewing corners becomes a quick, simple skill that dramatically improves the finished look of sewing projects.

• Clipping Sewing
• Sewing Curves
• How to Add Seam Allowance
• Square Corners with Bias