Grommet Fashion: Adding Hardware to Your Clothing Projects

Using the right needles, thread types, and fabrics are all important ways to make your DIY projects sturdy and long-lasting. However, consider adding hardware to your items to make them even more durable and reliable. This is an especially important consideration for pieces that will see a lot of wear and tear during their use.

There are many different types of hardware that you can add to your sewing machine clothing projects, including zippers, clasps, and buttons. Another popular type of hardware is the grommet, which can be very useful in various settings.

What Are Grommets, and What Are They Used For?

Grommets are metal pieces in the shape of a hole that are most commonly used on curtains, tents, and drawstring bags. However, grommets can also come in handy on clothing items as an alternative type of clasp, especially for sweatshirts and jackets with a drawstring component.

Grommets are commonly mistaken for eyelets, another type of metal accessory that looks very similar. The most significant difference between the two is their size. Grommets tend to be much bigger than eyelets and are much more durable in most circumstances.

Additionally, grommets usually come in two pieces that are riveted together in order to create a very stable fastening. Eyelets have only one piece.

Why Use Grommets for Your Sewing Projects?

Grommets make a great addition to many clothing projects. They have a stylish and industrial look that can elevate the aesthetic of many items, including jackets, shirts, pants, and belts. Even if you don’t use the grommets to tie pieces together or create a closure, they can still transform the look of a piece in a unique way.

If you do use grommets to fasten multiple parts of a garment together, you’ll always be able to trust that the hole in which your grommet is placed will remain intact. Grommets are some of the most dependable types of fasteners due to the sturdiness of their installation when you use the right tools.

Grommets are also built to sustain high levels of weight, so they’ll be able to handle the weight of fabric ties on a piece of clothing with ease.

How to Install Grommets Step-by-Step

Ready to install grommets on your next sewing machine project? Apart from your fabric of choice, you'll need a few other items to succeed. Several grommet tools make grommet installation quick and easy, and the best way to make sure you have all the grommet tools you’ll need is with a grommet kit.

Grommet kits come with plenty of grommets and washers as well as an anvil and a setter. It’s important that your setter and anvil be the same size as the grommet you’re using, which shouldn’t be a problem if they all come in the same kit.

First, make sure you’re working on a sturdy surface. Determine the positions of your holes with a ruler and a pencil on your fabric. Once you’ve made your markings, place the grommets front side down on each marking. Create an additional circle marking by tracing the inside of the grommet.

Carefully cut out the holes using a pair of grommet pliers or an X-Acto knife. Insert the grommet right side up into the hole and flip your fabric over so you can place the washer directly on top of the grommet’s back end.

Next, place the anvil underneath your grommet’s front and the setter on top of the washer on the back.

Using a mallet or hammer, drive the setter into the washer with a few quick strikes. Once the washer has fully merged with the grommet, try giving the fabric a few tugs around the metal pieces to make sure the pieces are completely attached. If the pieces hold, you’re all finished! Repeat the steps for the rest of the grommets on your garment.

GoldStar Tool: Your One-Stop Shop for Grommet Tools and Other Sewing Accessories

High-quality grommet tools are the first step to achieving a perfect grommet application every time. Find the best grommet tools, sewing machine accessories, fabrics, and more at GoldStar Tool.