How to Accurately Sew Mitred Corners on Quilt Borders – Tips for Perfect Points

The Ins and Outs of Quilting Mitred Corners and Borders

Whether you’re new to quilting or an expert seamstress, quilting mitred corners and borders can be tricky. In this guide, I’ll walk through all the ins and outs of navigating those tricky mitres so your quilts come out looking professionally finished.

Understanding Mitred Corners

To start, let’s break down what a mitred corner is. Basically, a mitred corner is formed when two pieces of fabric meet at a 45-degree angle, like when piecing a border onto a quilt top. The cut edges overlap at that angle to form a neat corner without bulk.

From my experience quilting, mitred corners can kind of be confusing at first because it’s not as simple as just sewing two pieces of fabric straight across. You’ve gotta cut those pieces at an angle to make them fit together properly. I’ll show you the steps to cut and sew accurate mitres later on.

Tools for the Job

To quilt perfect mitred corners, you’ll need a few essential tools:

1. Rotary cutter – A sharp rotary cutter is key for cleanly cutting fabric strips at a 45-degree angle.
2. Ruler – I like using a 6″ x 24″ quilting ruler to measure and guide the rotary cutter for accurate cuts.
3. Iron – Press seams flat as you work for neat, crease-free results.
4. Pins – Pin mitres firmly before sewing to hold layers in place.
5. Thread – Use fine cotton or polyester thread that matches or blends with your fabrics.

It also helps to have a cutting mat to protect surfaces from the rotary cutter blade. Basic sewing supplies like scissors, sewing machine, straight pins and seam ripper complete the essential kit.

Cutting Fabric Strips for Borders

So now let’s jump into the actual cutting and sewing steps. The first thing you’ll do is cut fabric strips for your borders. Measure how wide you want the finished borders to be, then add 1/4″ seam allowances to both short ends of each strip.

That extra 1/4″ will get folded under and sewn down later to create clean, finished edges. Typically I cut border strips about 1-2″ wider than the finished width to allow for piecing multiple strips together if needed.

You’ll also want to cut at least one extra set of border strips, since chances are good you’ll mess up a corner or two along the way, in my experience! It’s better to have extras on hand.

Cutting Mitred Corners

Now for the fun part – cutting those mitred corners! Lay your ruler diagonally on the corner of one border strip, with the 45-degree line lining up with the edge. Use your rotary cutter to slice off the corner at a 45-degree angle.

Repeat on the other end of that strip and both ends of the second border strip. The key is to cut directly on your ruler’s marked 45-degree line for perfect angles. I’ve botched plenty of mitres by not lining it up just right, so take your time with this step.

When cutting multiple border strips, I like to cut all the corners at once for efficiency. Lay them end to end and just run my cutter down the angled ruler, slicing corners on several strips in one swoop. Just watch your fingers!

Sewing the Mitres

Now the moment of truth – sewing those angled mitred seams! Start by pressing the seam allowances on each border strip open, so they’ll fold neatly under the quilt later.

Pin the angled edges of two border strips right sides together, matching the points exactly. I like using two pins parallel to the cut edge to hold the pieces perfectly aligned.

Then it’s just a matter of sewing those pieces together with a 1/4″ seam allowance. This is where having your cuts match up perfectly pays off – the points will nest together seamlessly when sewn.

Go slowly at the mitre point and keep your stitches small. Pivot and change sewing direction at the point for a smooth transition. Backstitch at each end to reinforce the seam.

Repeat to sew all remaining border strip mitres together into one long border piece. If any seams pucker a bit, steam or finger press them smooth before moving on. A mitred border is coming together!

Adding Borders to the Quilt

Now your borders are pieced, it’s time to add them to the actual quilt top. Begin by placing the right side of one border strip along a top or side quilt edge raw edges aligned and right sides together.

Pin every few inches to secure the layers. Sew with a 1/4″ seam using the same small, careful stitches as before. I like to backstitch at the start and stop points for strength.

Repeat to sew the remaining three borders to the quilt top. Finally, press all seams towards the borders to conceal them neatly under the binding later. Snap a pic – your newly bordered quilt is coming along nicely!

Tips for Perfect Mitres

So in summary, accurate cutting and careful sewing are key for picture-perfect mitred corners. But I’ve definitely screwed up my fair share over the years, so let me give you a few pro tips I’ve learned:

Press, don’t crease. Always press border strips before and after sewing – never use an iron directly on the fabric. Creasing can warp the fabric, throwing off your corners.

Pins are your friend. Use plenty of pins to hold the mitres precisely aligned before stitching. Slip one out at a time as you sew for control.

Sew from the center out. Start sewing mitres from the center point outwards on each side for balanced tension as you pivot.

Mark the 45s. If hesitant, use a quilting ruler with a visible 45-degree line for tracing angles directly onto fabric.

With enough practice, you’ll get those mitres sewing like a dream in no time. And that’s the essence of learning to quilt gorgeous borders – practice makes perfect, yo!

Finishing Your Bordered Quilt

Once all borders are attached, it’s time for final finishing touches. First, press the seam allowances along each border strip neatly under to encase the raw edges.

Then add binding all the way around using your favorite binding method. I prefer the invisible stitch as it looks super clean, but the Wrapping method also works well. Either way, be extra careful mitring those binding corners!

At last, add a backing, batting, and consider quilting designs within the borders too if you dare, maybe some swirly pebbles or leaves. Then you’re all done! Admire your awesome new quilted creation – those borders sure make a statement. Nice work!

So in conclusion, with practice those tricky mitred corners and borders will become second nature. Let me know if you have any other quilting questions! Sewing perfect mitres really is part art and part skill. With patience and the right techniques, you’ll be a mitre master in no quilting. Keep on stitching!

Tips for Mitre Sewing Quilt Borders

FAQ

1. What are mitred corners?

   Mitred corners are basically where two pieces of fabric come together at an angle. To make them, you cut the fabric at a 45 degree angle so the edges join neatly.

2. Why are mitred corners important for borders?

   Unless you want your quilt borders to look kinda crooked, mitred corners help everything line up straight. At the same time, they prevent the edges from overlapping or having gaps between them.

3. How do you cut fabric for mitred corners?

   To cut fabric strips for mitred corners on borders, measure and mark the fabric at 45 degree angles with a clear ruler and fabric marker or chalk. Cut along the lines with sharp scissors. Be careful not to cut wonky! Turn the ruler as needed for accuracy.

4. What’s the best way to sew mitred corners?

   Most quilters start by placing right sides of the fabric together and pin the mitred edges before sewing. However, some people think it is simpler to sew with right sides facing up. Regardless, sew slowly and accurately along the diagonal seam lines. Backstitch at the start and finish for security.

5. How can I get perfect points in my mitred corners?

   The stunning secret is using an acrylic quilting mitre square as a guide! Place it point side down between the layers of fabric before sewing the diagonal seam. Sew right along the edge of the template to get a super sharp point every time. Amazing!

6. What if my mitred corners are a bit wonky?

   Don’t get too stressed if your points don’t look perfect at first. You can use a small pair of scissors to gently trim the seam allowance until the edges line up straight. Take your time and don’t cut too much – you can always snip off a bit more fabric but can’t put it back!

7. Any tips for preventing gaps in mitred corners?

   When pinning and sewing mitred seams, it’s crucial to stopper or pin the layers together very securely near the point. This helps prevent them from shifting or separating as you sew. Some quilters find it useful to use two pins an equal distance on either side of the point for extra holding power.

   

I hope these tips help explain how to sew beautiful mitred corners on your quilt borders! Let me know if you have any other questions. My grandmother taught me these methods years ago during one of her marathon quilting sessions. I can still picture her talented hands effortlessly sewing perfect points. Where does the time go? Thanks for the trip down memory lane!