I’m going to show you an easy method for how to sew bias tape around corners (also known as mitered corners) *without* cutting or pinning it all around first. Sewing bias tape around corners can be a little intimidating but I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeves to help you sew really nice, hassle-free professional mitered corners with your bias tape. Oh yeah, oh yeah, crisp and clean corners!
For newbies, bias tape is that lovely folded edging material that finishes seams on aprons, oven mitts, baby bibs, placemats and a ton more. You can either buy bias tape by the package (get the double fold kind to start) or make your own custom bias tape using the Simplicity Bias Tape Maker like I do. {super cute custom bias tape alert below!}
Now I admit that I’ve sometimes, ahem, rounded off my corners to avoid sewing around corners with bias tape (exhibit A: my free apron pattern with secret iPhone pocket, yeah, guilty). But let’s all buck up and give bias tape corners a chance. See how pretty they are edging this dog bed?
My method is crazy easy. There’s no need to measure and cut your bias tape at the beginning (you cut it at the end …simply ensure before you start that you’ll roughly have enough bias tape to make it around plus some room for the corners), and there’s also no need to pin it all around — you can pin (or not pin) as you sew each straight edge. My easy step-by-step tutorial for how to sew bias tape around corners to make mitered corners starts below…
WANNA MAKE IT? Free step-by-step tutorial instructions for how to sew bias tape around corners –>
Supplies for sewing bias tape around corners to make mitered corners:
- Fabric to bind (try my apron with secret iPhone pocket or my oven mit free tutorial)
- Bias tape OR make your own using the Simplicity Bias Tape Maker
- Good fabric scissors
- Pins or barrettes
- Sewing machine
Please post a comment and let me know how this bias tape corners sewing tutorial works for you. And share your own bias tape project photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign.
How to sew bias tape around corners to make mitered corners)
OK first, let’s get the bias tape started. Pick a straight raw edge; I chose the lower right side of my playdough mat. Fold the folded edge of the bias tape down towards your raw edge to make a triangle and pin.
Now start sewing your bias tape onto your fabric by stitching in the bias tape fold that’s closest to the raw edge. You can do this without pins if you’re confident, or you can pin it, or just use barrettes like I tend to do on oil canvas, oil cloth, laminated cotton and PUL fabric.
OK, so here we are now approaching a corner so slow down. You’re going to want to stop a little bit short of the corner itself. Specifically, you’ll stop sewing when you’re the same distance as you’ve been sewing along your bias tape (which depends on the width of your bias tape). In other words, if your stitch line is at 1/2″ then stop 1/2″ before you reach the end of the corner, backstitch, and cut your thread.
Fold the bias tape to the right, lining up the lower raw edge of the bias tape with the raw edge of your fabric edge. It will make a triangle on the corner. The top edge of your triangle (which is the bias tape’s folded edge) should be perpendicular to the stitched edge that you just sewed. Press the bias tape down with your fingers and make sure the triangle looks nice and straight. (Now you can see why there’s no need to pin down the entire bias tape — I think it’s just easier to pin one side at a time when sewing bias tape mitered corners).
Carefully fold the bias tape back to the left, folding the bias tape edge so it lines up with the fabric edge (on the right in the photo below), and making extra sure to keep your bias tape triangle intact underneath. Line up the bias tape edge with the raw edge of your unsewn raw fabric edge (the bottom edge in the photo below) and either pin or use a barrette. Now start sewing the bias tape edge to your fabric again along the bias tape fold (again, mine was 1/2″ from the raw edge) and you’re off again along a straight edge.
Repeat all of this when you reach the next corner, and the next corner, and the next corner. When you circle back to approach the beginning again, you’re going to want to overlap your bias tape a couple inches and backstitch.
Now cut your bias tape. You can see again why I don’t need to cut my bias tape until the end, and how I can pin as I go instead of worrying about getting it right before starting. Saves a lot of headache …that is, as long as you’re sure you have enough bias tape to make it around your project.
Now turn the folded bias tape edge over your raw edge to the back. I used no-slip grip rubber dot fabric on the back of my playdough mat so you can see that below. Be sure to pull the bias tape tightly so that the bias tape on the back will catch when you sew it from the front. Pin or use a barrette to hold. See how the corner is making a little folded triangle on the end?
Now turn the left side of the bias tape over the fabric making sure to keep that little triangle tucked inside. Looking like a corner, yes? You can iron here if you like – I tend to just finger press it down.
Here’s what it looks like from the front. Hey, nice mitered bias tape corners…
Now all you need to do is sew close to the edge to secure the bias tape on the backside, making sure to catch the bias tape on the back when you sew. Now some people like to stitch in the ditch here (which basically is stitching in the seam between the bias tape and your fabric, which essentially hides the stitching on the front while catching the bias tape on the back). Personally, I kind of like the topstitched look on the bias tape but this is totally up to you.
So let me know if this no-measure, no-pin-up-front method is helpful! Bring on the bias tape…
Did you make it? Please post a comment and let me know how this bias tape corners sewing tutorial works for you. And share your own bias tape project photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign.
COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this how to step-by-step tutorial for your own personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.
Meghan says
March 15, 2012 at 9:59 pmI can’t wait to try this on my next bias tape project, thanks for sharing!
Kathy Beymer says
March 17, 2012 at 8:03 amHi Meghan, thanks for commenting! Let me know how the directions work out for you ..if I need to make anything more clear. Enjoy!
Betsy says
March 16, 2012 at 2:48 pmthanks for the close up pics!
Kathy Beymer says
March 17, 2012 at 8:03 amHi Betsy, thanks for commenting. Enjoy the tutorial and let me know how it works for you!
Kara says
May 28, 2012 at 6:08 pmI just tried this and it worked beautifully! Thank you for the great instructions and pictures.
pat ulmer says
December 15, 2012 at 10:59 pmhello Kathy, thank you so much for the info on mitered corners. I have tried several different times to do this and was NEVER succesful, not even close realy. you directions were very easy to follow and achive SUCCESS !!!! yeah. I do have one comment in that where you stop sewing at the corner is crucial. so I stop a few inches before the corner make the fold and finger press, and presto when you unfold it you have the exact spot you need to stop at. works like a charm. I hope you can use this suggestion. again thank you for sharing
Kathy Beymer says
December 16, 2012 at 8:32 pmHi Pat, that’s a great tip and I will definitely use the finger press technique next time. Thanks so much for your comment!
Barbara says
January 8, 2014 at 1:55 pmI tried 3 different explanations and yours was the easiest and looked the nicest. I’m 82 years old and have been sewing for years and years, but I couldn’t remember how I did it and I thank you very much
Kristen says
February 3, 2014 at 8:43 pmBest mitered edge tutorial I’ve ever seen. So simple and so easy to follow! The pictures are very clear and I understand it all perfectly! You have saved me a ton of stress and a lot of time!
Kathy Beymer says
February 11, 2014 at 9:51 pmThanks, Kristen! So sweet of you to take the time to comment, that means a ton to me. I’m so very happy that it helped you with your project and saved you time too. Happy sewing!
Elizabeth in UK says
February 10, 2014 at 8:30 amA brilliant tutorial beautifully photographed and making what was a very tricky job so simple. I have emailed this tutorial to myself to make sure I can find it again! Thank you so much! I will pass your link to my friends at our quilting and needlecraft group.
Kathy Beymer says
February 11, 2014 at 9:47 pmThanks, Elizabeth! You just made my day and it’s so sweet of you to take the time to comment. Thanks for passing my site along to your friends, totally appreciate that!
Frances says
March 3, 2014 at 5:05 amThanks for the beautifully illustrated and clearly explained item on mitered corners on bias binding.
Shelagh Jane says
April 7, 2014 at 9:52 pmWhat brilliantly simple directions! Thank you. I was sure I would end up ripping out stitches two or three times, as usually happens, but no! I have mitred corners from the outset! The photos really, really help, too. I wish you were writing the text for some paper patterns that I have used recently – they were so unclear that I spent more time taking things apart than I did putting them together! And don’t let me start on how poor their illustrations are.
Melissa says
April 13, 2014 at 7:21 pmThank you SO much for these easy to understand instructions.. I needed to bind a blue jean quilt I was repairing for a friend. I put it on completely w/in an hour. I used to turn and hand stitch the backside but for this- it was so easy to just stitch and go. I also used to pin the entire binding before stitching– what a waste of time.!!!
Sue says
June 14, 2014 at 7:51 amMany thanks for these instructions Kathy. I am using your guide to finish ‘bunny rugs’ (I think you might call them ‘receiving blankets, for new babies?) and they are turing out really well. It’s great having the photos and they make your instructions very clear.
Cat says
June 18, 2014 at 2:06 pmawesome! That has just worked so well… Many thanks! Cat
Aislinn says
June 28, 2014 at 12:12 amBrilliant! Clear instructions, fabulous pictures. This is the best tutorial for this technique I have ever seen. Thank you so much.
Debbi says
November 16, 2014 at 1:32 pmI did it!
I am making a flag for my daughter’s company in military academy. It’s a black flag with the company mascot and name, and they wanted a white binding. Since this was my first time using bias binding, I searched for a tutorial and found yours. I followed it to the letter and wow! It came out absolutely awesome (well, except for when I spaced and let my stitching run off the tape, but I went back and fixed it) and was, as you said, CRAZY easy! It looks nearly professional. Thank you so much for making this available…. you saved the flag!♡♡♡
Kathy says
December 17, 2014 at 5:40 pmWhoa… love this tip… I have been doing it wrong for years! Making placemats and was just looking for an easier way of sewing on the binding. I actually hand sew my bias tape on… no reason… I just like complete control and the “hand made” touch…. thanks for making it “sew”easy!
janet says
December 20, 2014 at 2:33 pmAmazing. Have struggled with mitered corners for ages and these instructions worked perfectly first time. Thanks
Kirsten says
January 4, 2015 at 1:21 pmJust finished binding a baby quilt using your method. Easiest job ever! Thank you so much.
romve23 says
March 6, 2015 at 10:18 amJust wanted to say thank you for this tutorial, it made my corners look so wonderful. most of the things I sew usually have some type of corner on it. I struggled for a long time sewing corner bias, and this tutorial shed a new light on them.
Kathy Beymer says
March 12, 2015 at 8:30 pmThank you so much for commenting, romve23! I’m really glad that the tutorial helped!
Mary says
March 16, 2015 at 5:43 pmThanks for a great tutorial. What made yours stand out for me was the bright colors against a vivid background. This made all the steps easy to follow. and the hairclips were priceless too.
Kathy Beymer says
March 21, 2015 at 6:54 pmThanks, Mary! That’s a great tip. Glad you liked it …and the hairclips too 🙂
Amy says
May 5, 2015 at 11:03 amThe very best corner bias tape tutorial! Thank you for saving all our sewing projects! This was clearer than any other instructions I have been told or read. Thank you.
Anna says
November 6, 2015 at 1:20 pmThanks for this wonderful tutorial! It helped me tremendously, easy to follow and good amount of pictures!
Kathy Beymer says
November 15, 2015 at 7:52 pmGlad that the tutorial helped you, Anna! I like your blog …do you have an instagram, facebook or pinterest that I can follow?
Judy watt says
November 22, 2015 at 6:54 pmThank you so much! Worked great!
Liz says
December 20, 2015 at 10:16 pmI just used your tutorial, and it worked real well for me, except I was unsure there I was supposed to put the very beginning at – the corner or along the edge? I am so very rusty at sewing, and this is the first time using this machine, so I really feel like it turned out well. Thank you so much – it is just what I needed!
Kathy Beymer says
December 21, 2015 at 6:26 pmHi Liz, thanks for commenting and I’m glad that it turned out well for you! This is good feedback about the corner vs. along the edge — I’ll update my post to clarify that I usually start along the edge. Happy sewing!
Jon says
February 29, 2016 at 6:29 pmHey could you do a tutorial on how to do a 45 degree corner instead of a 90 degree thanks!
anna says
March 21, 2016 at 5:39 pmHi Kathy, sorry for my late response, I only now realized you answered! Thanks for your complimenting my blog, makes me smile! I have instagram and pinterest: https://www.instagram.com/sew_anna_f/ and https://www.pinterest.com/afienbork/
I’m fairly new to social media, but will certainly check out your pinterest account too. Thanks, and a wonderfully creative spring to you!