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Sewing patterns sometimes tell you to clip curves and corners. This simply means that you need to cut little slits or notches into your seam allowance so that your fabric will lay flat when you turn it right side out. I’ll show you how to do that in this post!
Clipping curves and corners gives your sewing projects a polished and professional look. It is a common task you’ll need to perform around necklines, pillow corners, and more.
Here’s a pic that shows the difference between a curve that has been clipped and a curve that has not:
Care should be taken when clipping into your seam allowance. You do not want to clip too far and cut your stitching by mistake! It’s easy to go too far… If it does happen, you’ll need to restitch the area where you clipped into your seam. However, try to clip as close as possible to your stitches, and make cuts about every ½ inch.
How to Clip Curves
There are two types of curves — convex and concave. You clip each of these curves in a different way. Convex curves face outwards, like a circle, and you often find them in bags and pillows. Concave curves are the most common in sewing patterns, and you find them in necklines and armholes.
For convex curves, cut triangular notches into your seam allowance every ½ inch to remove some of the excess fabric.
Here’s a pic to show what I mean:
For concave curves, simply cut slits every ½ inch.
Here’s a pic to show what I mean:
½ inch apart is just a general guideline. The more notches and slits you cut, the better your corners and curves will look!
You’ll need some very sharp scissors for clipping curves and corners. I think it’s better to use a small pair because they are easier to control. I recommend getting some Singer Detail Scissors for the job.
If you’re looking for a sewing project that requires you to clip curves and corners, I recommend starting with a simple, heart-shaped pillow. This is one of the first projects in my FREE Learn to Sew class. If you’re a beginner, come sign up!
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