What are eyelets and why are they needed?
Eyelets are one of those things that you can make at home with your own hands, so as not to overpay in the store for fabric with fastenings already attached. What are eyelets themselves? These are accessories, whose main manufacturer is Taiwan, which is used for products made of various fabrics - from thin to dense, even for things made of leather, you can use eyelets.
Fabric is not the only material in which you can make some kind of holes.
This fastening option was invented specifically for threading laces, ropes, or even pipes through it (if we are talking about curtains with grommets hanging on a cornice). Eyelets are sometimes confused with a block - also ring-shaped fittings. The grommet consists of two parts - a sleeve and a washer, which instead form a metal ring that fits over a hole in the fabric.
Often eyelets are used solely as decoration.
It is believed that the grommet is the most convenient type of fastening - it is often used on shoes and curtains, since from the latter it creates a smooth canvas that hangs beautifully on the window. Well, almost everyone knows and loves lace-up shoes, in the design of which these same eyelets occupy a significant place.
Rules of care
Washing Tips:
- Dusty curtains are vacuumed while hanging before washing. To do this, use a soft brush attachment.
- Eyelets should be removed if possible. Metal ones will give rusty stains. Plastic ones, especially cheap ones, will lose their pleasant appearance.
- When washing in a machine, you should place the product in a special mesh. If the eyelets are not removed, they may damage the machine or the curtain.
- It is recommended to wash with liquid detergent. It leaves the fabric better and faster.
- It is recommended to use a delicate washing program, minimal spin and a temperature of up to 30 degrees. Then the product will not wrinkle and will retain its shape in the eyelet area.
- When hand washing, curtains are soaked for several hours with liquid detergent, then the stains are washed off. Rinse thoroughly and send to dry.
How to dry and iron curtains with eyelets:
- Hang the wet item and iron it when dry. Use minimal iron heat.
- If curtains tend to stretch, dry them on a horizontal surface.
Some fabrics don't need to be dry cleaned, but they don't need to be washed either. Such curtains are vacuumed while hanging and wiped with a damp cloth.
Important
If washing is contraindicated, it is recommended to take the contaminated item to the dry cleaner. Otherwise, it shrinks or loses its shape.
Simplicity and originality are what attracts people in such curtains. They are suitable for any room. With proper care of the fabric and rings, the product will last for many years.
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Types of eyelets
Eyelets come in quite a variety: the most important difference, of course, is in the shape of the fasteners. Round and oval eyelets are undoubtedly considered classics, but now, succumbing to fashion, manufacturers are beginning to experiment with shapes - square, rectangular, triangular, even in the shape of flowers - today you can find absolutely any options that will be functional, but at the same time look very original .
A grommet is most often a plastic or metal rim that is attached to a hole in a particular material.
It was also previously believed that eyelets could only be metallic in color; a little later black, white and gold shades were added. Now you can find everything your heart desires - pastel, bright, with various decorations such as patterns and rhinestones (the latter is most popular in children's shoe stores; not a single princess shoe is complete without pink eyelets in the shape of flowers, decorated with rhinestones).
Eyelets can extend the life of the material, hide imperfections and facilitate its connection to another surface.
By fastening
Grommets also differ in their fastening: some are designed to be fastened with rope, tape or cords and can be soft, while others are only used with hard objects, such as a curtain rod, and must be hard.
Eyelets can be either metal or plastic.
It's also important to clarify that there are differences in how metal rings are attached to fabric: there are options that require the use of a hammer, others can be glued, and others can be sewn to the fabric if they are soft enough. All these options provide a fairly reliable connection between the grommet and the fabric, and therefore it is not particularly possible to single out the most popular option among them.
The main material from which this fittings are made is steel.
By materials (plastic, metal)
Basically, eyelets are made from two materials - plastic and metal; usually the products consist entirely of one material, but sometimes manufacturers mix them. The most reliable, of course, is the metal option: stronger and more durable, this material beats plastic in all respects.
The most practical option is parts coated with zinc, copper or nickel plating.
If we talk about curtains, then it is better to choose metal eyelets, since they will definitely be able to hold any, even the heaviest fabric, will not break under its weight and will create a beautiful, even curtain from the curtain, which will be a good addition to any room. For shoes, on the other hand, plastic eyelets are mainly used because they are lighter and there is no need to keep the fabric suspended on the shoe so that it does not fall, stretch, or lose its shape.
The eyelets have a beautiful color, do not deform during use and do not spoil the surface into which they are inserted.
When choosing eyelets, you need to clearly understand for what purpose they are needed: for canvas fabric, from which a camping tent will later be made, it is better to take the strongest metal fasteners that are available in the store; for curtains - thinner, but still made of metal so that the curtains stay on the ledge and don’t fall, and for thin fabric, if you suddenly have to sew some clothes or something like that, you can get by with plastic eyelets, their strength will be sufficient in this case.
Awnings and tents are equipped with eyelets for more convenient and long-term use.
What could be the design of curtains with eyelets?
The simplest option may be limited to one or two panels. You can “decorate” them using a variety of hooks. Wide, narrow or fancy shapes of pendants make them real works of art.
Large windows allow inspiration to spread even wider. An asymmetrical cut is appropriate here, a combination of three fabrics in a fancy cut, sewn from fabric of different shades and textures. The oriental style allows a combination of openwork and velvet in the composition of one wide window or canopy.
Important! To emphasize the beauty of decorative details, to prevent them from getting lost and blending into the background, there is a rule. Pretentious bright eyelets are best combined with a plain fabric. On the contrary, for colorful panels, it is important to choose plain rings of simple shapes.
The size of the folds on the curtain is determined by the distance of the eyelets from each other. The closer they are punched, the smaller the folds will be. The further the distance of the rings from each other, the more voluminous and larger the folds will be. Small folds work better on thin fabric.
To make the curtain stronger and preserve its beauty longer, it is important to reinforce the top layer into which the eyelets are inserted with a strip of stronger, dense fabric. This is especially important for such delicate fabrics as organza, cambric, and tulle.
Do not forget that the spectacular beautiful curtains seen in photos and pictures in fashion magazines or catalogs may not suit the style or shades of a particular exclusive interior. Before you start sewing, it is important to think about the style and color scheme of not only the curtains, but also the entire interior.
Eyelet sizes
The size of the eyelets is another criterion when choosing fasteners in the store. What does it depend on? The most important point that influences what size eyelet is ultimately worth buying is, without a doubt, the density and thickness of the fabric, since the heavier the future curtain, the larger the diameter of the eyelets should be (it ranges from 15 to 50 millimeters).
The minimum thickness of the material for each fitting is determined experimentally - from 10 to 80% of the length of the leg.
The second important point is the thickness of the rope or pipe that is threaded through the eyelet rings. The fasteners should slide easily along the cord or rod of the curtain rod, and therefore it is worth choosing a larger diameter.
The grommet is easy to use, so any type of work can be done quickly and without complications.
It is also believed that the larger the diameter of the eyelets, the more beautiful the curtains on the cornice look - large rings look more aesthetically pleasing than small ones, and therefore it is better to give preference to them. True, installing large eyelets is a little more difficult than small ones - it is impossible to cover the entire ring with a hammer and you have to carefully make the connection in parts.
Description and types of eyelets: metal, for leather
Eyelets - what are they? These are metal fittings in the form of rings for fabric. The element itself consists of a block and a ring.
This type of fastening was invented back in the mid-20th century, and was originally intended for securing sails on ships. However, over time, metal fittings began to be widely used in sewing women's clothing, shoes, and bags.
Grommets occupy a special place in the field of interior design, namely when decorating windows with products with a diameter of 40 mm made in Taiwan.
Curtains with eyelets can be matched to any interior style
Features of a rectangular eyelet with a fastening belt
A separate name is “rectangular eyelet with a fastening belt” - what is it and how to use it? Basically, this is the grommet that attaches the curtain to the frame. To do this, you need to put the grommet on a special bracket and secure this entire structure with a PVC strap. What is a staple? In itself, the bracket is a piece of fittings that helps secure the curtains to the frame, since an oval-shaped grommet is put on this very bracket.
The strap with a buckle is installed at the edge of the curtain and serves to hold the curtain folded.
The bracket can be rotary, which means that the “ear” of the bracket can change its position. There are also stationary brackets, whose position in space cannot be changed in any way. In general, swivel brackets with a fastening belt are much more popular. Why is it worth buying such a strap for eyelets? The reason is quite simple - the belt provides a more reliable connection between the curtain and the frame, as it firmly fastens the bracket and the grommet on which the curtain hangs.
It is used for attaching the awning to various surfaces by “self-fastening”.
Eyelets and their application 12/26/2019
The processing of holes on leather and fabric products requires special attention. If you need to make the edges of the holes as strong as possible, then you should use special fittings called grommets. It is he who is able to protect the edges of the hole well from unraveling and tearing. rice.
1 Metal eyelets What are eyelets?
Eyelets are products from the category of accessories that are used to increase the strength of holes in clothing, accessories and various furnishings. They are also called blocks or piccolo, but these are not complete synonyms, because eyelets, for example, have a washer, which cannot be said about a simple block. Externally, they are a ring made of hard plastic or metal, which is installed in fabric or leather. This can be an awning, leatherette and other materials that can be damaged during normal fastening. In general, they initially appeared in shipbuilding, where there was a need for reliable reinforcement of the sail, and now they have migrated to everyday life and to craftsmen.
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2 Eyelets for lacing The classic version is a design consisting of a metal ring that is placed in the product. Subsequently, a rope, ribbon, etc. will be threaded through it. There are two ring parts: a washer and a block, connected to each other. And they are made from brass or proven high quality galvanized carbon steel. As a coating, you can choose varnish, chemical passivation using brass, or nickel plating.
Application areas for eyelets
The scope of application is very wide, since many things require holes for reliable fixation:
1. Shoe production. It is necessary to make holes so that the laces can be pulled through them in the future. 2. Making bags is another area in which eyelets are needed for a complete set. 3. Eyelets on curtains and drapes are needed for good fixation of the fabric on the cornice. 4. Production of various outdoor advertising objects (banners). 5. Creating lacing on a corset is one of the most difficult tasks. 6. Manufacturing of tourist equipment. 7. Scrapbook - a technology for successfully designing photo albums, postcards and more.
Eyelets are very popular where various non-standard solutions are needed. Leather goods, original bags, belts - all these accessories are also important for style.
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3 Eyelets in a leather belt Types of eyelets
In terms of varieties, there are three main types of eyelets:
1) stitching or sewing, as it is called - an option for old models of army-type tents, as well as for strengthening under posts;
2) a plastic eyelet is what is needed for thin materials (for example, in printing) and not very thin ones;
3) a metal eyelet is the most reliable option, which is good for mechanically strengthening holes in dense fabrics or leather.
In addition to those listed, there are also particularly convenient models that immediately punch a hole with the edge of their legs. They can be inserted immediately and without additional operations. In this case, the process is significantly accelerated, but the equipment is more expensive.
Diameters can vary from 3 mm to 40 mm, and within these limits there are almost two dozen options.
rice. 4 Eyelets come with colored coating
The overwhelming majority are round in shape, but original ones are also valued: oval and triangular, rectangular and various creative configurations. They all also include a block and ring.
The choice depends on the characteristics of the future product, that is, its functional purpose, but you also need to focus on the shape, color and characteristics of the material. For example, you can pay attention to “antique” (a shade of old gold), or silver nickel. To get any color, it is enough to also cover it with enamel, which gives its own spectacular shine.
How to attach a grommet to a hole
The grommet installation process itself is quite labor-intensive and requires some persistence. But if you approach it responsibly, the result will be worthy of respect. The professional level really allows us to make excellent products.
In order to get all the benefits of eyelets, it is important to comply with all the conditions for their installation. It is worth considering the procedure.
1. It is recommended to find a wooden surface (soft wood works well too). First of all, you need to choose the place where the grommet will be installed. It can be marked. For example, if you fold the edges and do everything through a double layer, then there will be no split edges. 2. To flare the tubular part, you can take a ball from a bearing with approximately the same diameter or replace it with a bolt/screw.
3. Curved edges of the material can be punched using a special punch.
4. If the material is elastic, it is recommended to take the eyelet diameter 2-3 mm smaller.
5. Now the grommet is inserted into the hole, and the washer is put on the leg. As a result, the material becomes sandwiched between the block head and the washer.
rice. 5 Installation of eyelets
To punch, you need to have a punch of at least 2 mm, which is enough for the smallest grommet. As a last resort, you can sharpen a suitable thin tube, but this is not at all as convenient.
If the eyelets are large, then at the installation site you need to make several holes located on top of each other.
A block is placed in the punched hole, and a ring in the form of a grommet is put on top. The tube of the latter is slightly flared (by 50%), and then continued with a hammer. Here it is important to remember to be careful and measure the strength of the hammer so that the upper part of the grommet is not deformed at all as a result of your actions.
The method described above allows you to solve many local problems, but for regular production of eyelets in large quantities, you will most likely need special equipment.
Some recommendations
1. When using a hammer, you need to take care of your fingers; perhaps you should use pliers to prevent trouble.
2. It is easiest to install the fittings if you have a flat wooden surface.
3. On mirror and rubber surfaces it is better not to install a grommet at all.
4. Installation on lead plate is also possible. In the future, it may become deformed, but the situation can be easily corrected by simply heating it.
rice. 6 Tool for quick installation of eyelets
How to choose the right diameter
To select the correct eyelet diameter, you need to refer to the base, which will be threaded through the fastening rings. The thicker the lace or pipe (for example, a curtain rod) on which the fabric will be attached, the larger the diameter of the eyelet should be in order to easily slide along the base, not get stuck anywhere along the way and create a beautiful, even curtain fabric that will look great and refresh any room, giving it a special charm and cozy atmosphere.
The same distance is left between each eyelet - for curtains it can be 17 cm.
The diameter of the eyelets varies in the range from one and a half to fifty millimeters and it is often quite difficult to choose the most suitable option, because, although everyone understands that larger rings look more beautiful than small ones, too large eyelets on a thin cornice will create an unpleasant effect of “a lonely pencil in glass” - as if fasteners of this size are out of place here and it would be worth replacing them with a smaller option.
The minimum acceptable distance to the edge of the curtain is between 5 and 7 centimeters.
How to Apply Grommet Tape
First you need to figure out what this grommet tape is. Eyelet tape is a special adhesive strip made of dense material, which is used to strengthen the upper edge of the curtain before installing eyelets on it. Eyelet tape is an alternative way to increase the density of fabric.
Reinforcing tapes come in one- and two-layer types. They differ in the number of pasted sides.
The eyelet tape should be quite wide: the diameter of the rings + 2-3 centimeters. The hot-melt material from which the tape is made can be quite dense for heavy curtains, or very thin and transparent for light curtains. Often, grommet tape is used as a backing for decorative elements that should be placed on the curtain.
To find the ideal width, add at least 2 cm to the outer diameter.
To glue the grommet tape, you first need to determine how many layers there are in it:
- For a single layer, you can simply use an iron - such a tape will quickly connect to the fabric.
- Double-layer tape is distinguished by the fact that glue is applied to both sides of the material and protected by a special heat-resistant mesh.
To attach grommet tape to curtains, follow these steps:
- Mark two widths of tape on the top of the curtain
- Fold the curtains inside out to each other and iron
- Take the tape and apply it, sticky side down, to the edge of the fold.
- Wait for the tape to cool down
- Remove excess material
- Sew the tape and curtain approximately in the middle of the width of the tape, this is necessary for a more durable fixation.
For thin curtains, choose transparent tapes.
How to install eyelets on fabric
To install eyelets on fabric you need to do the following:
- Strengthen the attachment point
- Attach the grommet ring and press it onto the fabric
- Cut holes according to the resulting stencil
- Place the layers of fabric together, pin them together and insert a ring from the outside
- Install the second half of the grommet from the wrong side
- Tap the grommet with a hammer
For installation, you may also need pliers with a punch or a press in order to simultaneously make a hole in the material and insert the grommet.
To do your own fastening, it is enough to have a ruler, a hammer and some kind of stabbing device, for example, a hole punch, on hand.
Installing a grommet yourself at home is a completely solvable task if you have not only all the necessary tools at hand, but also instructions that must be strictly followed.
Everyone can independently calculate and make grommet tape for curtains right at home.
