DIY Grommets
Grommets are plastic or metal rings that reinforce holes in fabric, tarp and leather that will be laced up or hung. They vary in size from about a quarter-inch to several inches in diameter.
Grommets snap together, sealing off raw edges and adding a finished look to projects.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Masking tape
- Chalk
- Fabric hole punch
- Grommets
- Grommet tool
- Wooden block
- Hammer
Instructions
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1
Lay your material on a clean, flat surface. With masking tape, fasten the measuring tape along the edge of the material to keep it in place.
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2
Mark your material along the measuring tape where you will place each grommet. Limit spacing to no more than three times the width of the grommet to prevent pulling or sagging of your material. For example, place 1-inch grommets no more than about three inches apart.
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3
Use a hole punch the same size as your grommet. Punch holes where you marked your fabric, making sure to keep the holes lined up against the edge of your measuring tape. Remove the tape and discard the fabric holes.
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4
Pick up a piece of a grommet that has a tube sticking up from the ring. Slip the tube up through a hole from the underside of the fabric. Place the hole with the ring coming through it onto a block of wood. The other piece of the grommet will have an indentation on one side. Place that piece, indent down, on top of the tube. Place the grommet tool, a metal rod with a pointed end, inside the grommet rings. Rap the end of the grommet tool with a hammer until the grommet sides join flush against the material.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Most plastic grommets click together without hammering. You can get metal-toned plastic grommets for less money and install them with less hassle.
References
- Photo Credit bag image by MLProject from Fotolia.com
