Easy Sewing.

I teach small basic sewing, four classes until graduation.  Children from ages 7 to 13 and their mothers.  I have not been happy with the corners of blankets and it would soon be time to put in the corners for my beginner class. 

 I looked at buying a set of mitered corners that would make hems from 3/4 inch to 2 or 3 inches, but $50.00. 

Ah, noooo.  So, my brother Mac and family came to visit and I showed him my problem and that I wanted to make templates to make nice mitered corners every time.  Well after he, a master electrical  and I worked for a bit with this and that, somehow I got out my old plastic 12 inch t-square and here is the wonderful minute or two it will take you, to make perfect corners every time.   

Mitered Corners

By betty and mac, 2010

Using rectangle or square fabric, fold the edges wrong side to wrong side, press and stitch, overlap the corners.  (They will be cut off later.)

Fold a corner right side to right side forming a point at the corner.

Lay the corner with the point to the right, the edges to the top side, the fold to the bottom side and pin.

Using a t-square (I have bought many from Michaels for less than 3 dollars), place the t-square at the top edge of your fabric.

Be careful that your fabric is correctly folded and pinned.  This will determine how perfect your corner will be.

Determine what inch hem you want.

Measure the size of the hem you want going from the top edge to the fold side and put a mark at the fold side.

Turn the t-square so the t section of the t-square is at the fold side and the mark on the fold is to the left side of the ruler.

Pay no mind to the increment of this measurement.  It is not an issue for this particular measurement.

Place a mark on the edges side where the left side of the ruler meets the edges.

Pin and draw a line from the top edges mark to the bottom fold mark.

Sew on the line being careful to stitch every bit and to tie beginning and end of stitching.

Move 1/8 to 1/4 inch towards the corner from the seam you just sewed and cut off the excess fabric.

Turn the corner right side out and open to a corner.

Use a corner wedge or closed scissors to shape the point of your corner.

Using a six inch metal measure, find your greaters hem measurement (after a bit of practice they will be near perfect).  Make sure your measurement is the same all corners.  Press and stitch the hem.

Sew down a hem side, set your needle and pivot; sew down (a bit to the side of your corner seam); set your needle, pivot and sew two or three stitches across your corner seam, about 1/4 inch from edge; sew up the other side of your corner seam; pivot and sew the next side hem doing the same at each corner until complete.

Press again and then top stitch 1/4 inch from the edge all around and 'beautiful corners'.

Thanks brother for all your help and we didn't spend 50 plus shipping dollars.  So nice.

So, he said to me a + b = c, right.  Ahhh, it had been 35 plus years since I needed that one, and soon we were into the middle of a math class.  But, for you math lovers it comes to 3 squared plus 4 squared equals 5 squared, or 9 + 16 = 25.  Of course it does...duh!  So, I didn't care about that, but sure loved what came out and so happy to share.  Use it share it cause it works so great and I have not seen it in any of my sewing books.