Eyelet tool?

[Tripletap]

Anyone know of a good eyelet tool, do they make one that can do different size eyelets?

[Baroness de Vale]

Depends on what you mean by eyelet tool. If you mean something that will squish metal eyelets, I wouldn't suggest it. Try grommets instead. They are much sturdier and have less of a tendency to tear out of the fabric. I have found eyelets just love to rip out of the fabric no matter what kind of stabilizer you use. If you want to make them by hand, that's pretty easy to do. Get a good awl that tapers to a point. Stick it in the fabric until you have a hole the right size. Then use embroidery thread to bind the edges of your hole. It's not too time consuming and you can sit in a comfortable position while you do it. An awl works better because it expands the hole without cutting the threads and thus making the area weaker. I hope this made sense because I'm getting tired and my eyes are going blurry.

[Tripletap]

I have worked with grommets before, granted they were big ones used on bounce-house inflatables, it was simple enough, I remember needing to use a bunch of force with a punch type of thing, should be easier on fabric.

[Lady Isabella]

DO NOT cut the fabric. Use an awl or something like it to stretch the fabric. Makes all the difference. I use a pencil.

[Kate XXXXXX]

I use this on my Bernina sewing machine:



http://www.bernina.com/product_detail-n25-i157-sEN.html

This is what I get:

[gem]

Your local hardware store will sell a kit with tarp grommets (1/4" hole or so) and the tools to set them. I use the tool to punch holes in the fabric first, then apply the grommet.

You can also do them by hand, as Baroness de Vale recommended.

(Like Kate, I'm also lucky enough to have a machine to do them.)

[ladybootlegger]

Believe it or not, I actually use a leather punch, they look like this:


I select the size I need depending on the grommets I'll be using, then punch the fabric with it. It works well for me. Then of course I use the appropriate size tools to squish the metal grommets together.

[Marietta Graziella]

I use the leather punch, too.  I just cut the hole very small then stretch it with the awl.  I tried just using the awl but I usually have too many layers to deal with.

[ArielCallista]

I have an eyelet punch from walmart of all places...its a Crop-a-dile...basically it is a hole punch you can use on fabric and then another part of the same tool sets eyelets...I like it alright but if the fabric is a satin weave, or any kind of loose weave, it pulls right through. i usually use it to punch wholes for grommets too and just use a pencil or something to wedge in it to stretch the hole if necessary...sounds ghetto but it works for me.

[Lady Rosalind]

I had to get an eyelet tool earlier this spring, as I was not having luck getting hand-sewn eyelets to work well through 2 layers of cotton duck, a layer of broadcloth, and a layer of velveteen (the holes just wouldn't stretch!).

I went around the metal eyelets with embroidery floss. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how they hold up. I got mine from JoAnn Fabrics, and made use of a 50% off coupon.

http://www.joann.com:80/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?CATID=cat2851&PRODID=prd11082

[LadyStitch]

I'm still trying to convince my DH to let me have this.
http://www.richardthethread.com/index.php?src=directory&view=shop_richard&srctype=detail&refno=640&category=Corset%20Supplies&submenu=CorsetEssentials

For now I'm making my eyelets by hand.  I'm trying to think if I can get an eyelet attachment for my machine.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Which make and model do you have?

[raevyncait]

At our house we LOVE our Crop-a-Dile for making the holes easily, and have had no problem with grommets pulling loose or fabric tearing beyond where it should.

[isabelladangelo]

Either a hole punch or my awl.  It really depends on the thickness of the fabric and how quickly I want to get the thing done. 

[gem]

A bone awl is on my wish list! Hardware store awls don't taper to that fabulous fat end, and I've found myself needing to use a pencil to widen the hole afterward (and I have actually worn a hexagonal pencil round by doing this!).