How to Hand Sew Grommets in Canvas

A hand sewn grommet in a canvas tent.

You can hand-sew grommets in canvas, to reinforce holes for tent ropes or tie-downs. Civil War reenactors, buckskinners and other living history participants can use this method to make their own tents or tent flies. This way of sewing a grommet doesn't require a metal ring, but it still reinforces a hole so that the canvas can be used as a tent without tearing out.

Things You'll Need

• Canvas
• Scissors
• Needle and heavy linen or cotton thread

Instructions

1. To make an extra-strong hand-sewn grommet, first sew a small square of canvas, about 2" x 2", over the area where you want the hole.

2. Using small sharp scissors or a leather punch, cut out the hole for the grommet. Make it slightly larger than you want the finished hole to be.

3. 

   Sew around the hole with a buttonhole or blanket stitch, using heavy linen or cotton thread or lightweight twine. Begin and end it by catching half an inch or so of the thread under the stitches.

Tips & Warnings

• The hole can be further strengthened by:

• sewing a square of leather over the area before cutting out the hole, or

• sewing around the hole with a running stitch before sewing the buttonhole or blanket stitch