Hate Grommets? Let's Explore Other Lacing Options!

[@Loxalair]

Really appreciating how you got a cheap pair of grommet pliers, a Crop-a-dile, a *grommet press*, but didn't manage to get an awl. Genuinely, I am delighted Editing now that I've finished the video. For an easier "hidden lacing" thing, you could use the hole tapes or trims and just sew them to the underside, rather than sandwiching them. I feel like that would be easier than sewing a million boxes

[@charlottetaylor272]

If you too also avoid buying an awl at any cost- using a pin to start the whole, stretching it out in circles, and then increasing sizes of knitting needles also works well as a way to create a hole for an eyelet!

[@notallwhowanderarelost4797]

That was my plan! Only I also have yarn-needles and an icepick, which I might use for some steps. (I actually did buy an awl once, but it ran away and hid somewhere in my house, lol)

[@daalelli]

@@notallwhowanderarelost4797 an ice pick! That's a great idea!

[@greatauntlizbethg9137]

This what I did, starting with a large s e ing needle.

[@maryssa_sings]

The 'hidden ribbon' method can probably also be done with bias tape or straight-of-grain tape! I enjoy seeing the variety of methods all side-by-side. My favourite looks are the hooks and the circle lace loops half-covered.

[@angelbear_og]

The boot lace hooks that you liked lacing (speed lace hooks) are actually intended to be even easier and more satisfying to lace! After starting them on the first set (on boots there are usually a few sets of regular eyelets/grommets) you bring one lace end over so that both are on the same side. With one hand you just go back and forth from right to left, catching two hooks at a time. (Search "How to... Use Speed Lace Hooks" there's a 30 second vid). I learned it when I worked in a boot store where we sold men's work boots. SO FUN!

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

I love hiking boots with the speed lace hooks. I have super sweaty feetses and often have to air them out and change my socks multiple times/day, and the speed laces mean I annoy my hiking partners slightly less with my high maintenance feet.

[@questionstar]

I learned about this only recently from a short video clip a friend shared (a pair of knee high boots laced in 5 seconds !!) and I am FURIOUS I went my entire life not knowing about it 😅 But happy I know now lol

[@beglitchery]

til ty

[@dar4835]

​@AllTheHappySquirrels I have found that if I eat very little carbs, the least that I sweat. Feetses included!

[@gen_k_alley]

Charlie: "I'm not gonna bore you with all of the details with stress testing on these" *proceeds to explain each of them in detail* 😂 and I enjoyed each and every one of them. These are very informative to a green/rookie sewist like myself 😊 looking forward to the next exploration video. Thank you! ❤

[@bycarolinakobayashi]

Most of the distortion on the base fabric can be fixed by adding a boninchannel paralel to the edge, and you can even add a second channel on the other side of the eyelets and make it even sturdier!

[@kiryanna]

I wasn't looking for methods of doing lacing, but after watching this video I'm going to be looking for projects that require lacing

[@garbtheater]

Bless you Sewing Godmother for doing all the hard work for us.🧚🏻‍♀️

[@SherylFZsmom]

I have hugely enjoyed both of these videos primarily because a sewing buddy and I are going to try to make corsets, and I have no clue (except for hand sewing them) how to do them. First off you've shown me some types I've NEVER seen before either in person or on the media, and second the "hidden ribbon lacing" type-love it! Finally, I agree, closer together is more pleasing to my eye also. Thank you.

[@heidibaltom8138]

I have only just found your channel and i have gone a binge watching alot of older videos of clothes making and its inspired me to get out my sewing machine and start again. I havnt sewed in a long time due to bad mental health but this will be a great step to getting back to being me again. So thankyou.

[@ozok17]

yay, best wishes. sometimes it's fun even just to feel inspired and hopeful. then any additional results can be bonus

[@DawnDavidson]

I’ve used button holes for eyelets, but always because they were already there for buttons, and I was converting the buttoned vest into a laced bodice. 😂 I love all of these different methods. Lots of options and creativity. I liked your first loop ones. :) Very neat. And your hand done ones in multicolors were very pretty. Once upon a time while doing historical costuming, we found some heavy duty WOOL button loops (in the garment district in LA). We were able to dye them to match our outfits and they were spectacular. Never found them again, sadly. We were using buttons with them (Medieval Burgundians, with ALL the buttons! 😂), but they probably would have worked just fine as lacing loops, too. Congratulations for figuring out on your own that hand sewing the eyelets is actually really strong. Bernadette Banner would be pleased. 😂 I agree with those who have said to put a boning channel in between your eyelets and the edge of the fabric, for stability. It will both keep the fabric from buckling as much, but also save your eyelets from tearing out as easily. If you don’t have room for feather boning there, you could also put in just cording. Won’t help with the buckling, but will help with the sturdiness.

[@moonbasket]

The David's bridal baby blue trim is giving me such terrible wedding season flashbacks. All my mom's friends roped me and my sister into being flower girls nearly every year from like 4 to 10.

[@mollywilcox5991]

So, if you look up Dawn's Dress Diaries, (I don't want to tag the link here, but it's fairly easy to find), there's an entry on 1480s Florence, and the lacing techniques for the bodices. The hidden lacing you did on one of your cuffs actually is originally historically traced back to that. I think you'd find the info neat to learn about.

[@ReinaElizondo]

👀

[@questionstar]

I just looked it up, the post titled "celebration gamurra", really lovely ideas!!

[@dawsie]

If your a knitter, start with the smallest knitting needle and to make the hole bigger then take the next size up needle and keep doing this till you gave the sized hole you want. I have a very large collection of knitting needle from my knitting days as well as my Moms huge collection of needles some of which I never knew could get so skinny😳🙀 oh don’t use plastic knitting needles 😔 they will not take the pressure of being pushed through the fabric when starting out😼😼 I enjoyed this rabbit hole dive into the different forms of lacing it has given me soooooo many new ideas for a dress I’m designing 😊😊 I’m looking forward to seeing the project that you have planed for the use of lacing 🤗🤗🤗

[@Menita72]

I was going to figure out wow to lace my corset without grommets; so this video gave me a lot, A LOT, of ideas, I am so grateful ❤

[@theresaanndiaz3179]

I love these deep dive videos. I think the ribbon method is really pretty on a dress or blouse with decorative corset lacing. Sewn eyelets are remarkably strong.

[@ИринаМ-ю1е]

I had boots with hook grommets - they were a blast indeed, very comfortable to lace up. This video (and its predecessor) is amazing, thank you!

[@josi_k.]

I have some too, but in this case they annoy me, because the shoes also have zippers, and when I take them off sometimes the shoelace slips off, so more work when putting the shoes on. But I can see how convenient it would be if u actually lace ur shoes. And I agree, awesome and interesting video!

[@ozok17]

the one danger i've found is that sometimes the hooks catch on other, more delicate things... like cheap bicycle seats. (oops)

[@ИринаМ-ю1е]

@@ozok17 Good I never had a bicycle then XD

[@driverjayne]

I've hooked one boot to the other boot and fallen flat on my face so often that I've sworn off speed lacing forever. And no, I don't know how I do it. It should be impossible. But my feet love each other and love hurting me more

[@ToriLynnH]

The uneven eyelet looks so beautiful and organic. Like a flower!

[@cherylrosbak4092]

Farthingales sells a beautiful, stiff grommet tape that has boning channels in it. Just sandwich the fabric between its edges and topstitch.

[@thizizliz]

Wow, all I could think of was Renn Faire. You came up with some really cool choices - something for everyone, really. Thank you. Now please pass the cake! :D

[@ReinaElizondo]

Ooh you could also crochet or needle lace maybe right onto the edge of something. Like people add lace or scallop edges and if you add loops of some style that could work. Like a thread button loop too.

[@WantedVisual]

If you liked the hidden-ness of the ribbon, and the hand-sewn-ness of the sewn eyelet... You might wanna look up lacing rings.

[@lisalisaa1806]

The deskription of the music in the subtitles is lovely. I enjoyed reading it a lot.

[@werelemur1138]

I once hand-sewed twenty-some eyelets into a senators bodice and they kept my DDD cups contained in the circle dance.

[@ponderosityjay8132]

Ok. Now, figure out how to work them all in for a mad steampunk outfit shenanigans!

[@MissMeganBeckett]

18:05 they sell each side of the hook and eye tape completely separately by the yard at the fabric store I usually go to, they only sell them in matched sets of hook and eye closures in the notions area with the button and shoelace and small individual portions of ribbon priced by the whole container and zippers with standard lengths for the back of a dress or already made up into a bra closure, the big spools like that one are only sold from next to the cutting table for the fabric by the yard with the ribbon and lace trim by the yard and interfacing by the yard in big spools and batting by the yard that are cut to order by the staff and they have to write it on your order slip for you after they cut it so that the cashier knows how much you bought and what the price per yard was.

[@SharonOfTheRose]

XD your leg going into the air for every lace up option is wonderfully hilarious! Very creative way to make 50 million of the same thing and show it off easily for us :D Appreciate you going into such detail and so many options for creativity! And yes... these would be wonderful options for aesthetically pleasing looking clothes! When you were talking about the purple eyelet/grommets that popped out during the stress test, it looked to me that the holes were too big. If the holes put into the fabric are just the right size to fit the eyelet through, then there's a lot of wiggle room for them to fall out when under stress since the fabric can move around a lot. I found that out the hard way when making a bodice for myself over the summer. I learned that if you *have* to punch a hole, make that hole about 2 sizes smaller. The eyelet will fit much snugger in that hole, and the likelihood of it popping out (like what happened to you) is nearly gone.

[@BumblingBee-xm4dy]

3:37 omg i have so much embroidery floss and an awl but no metal eyelets or eyelet tools this is gonna work so much better for me

[@orchardhouse9241]

I love the hidden lacing idea. I want to sew myself a kirtle, but I do not wat to spend ages sewing fifty-seven eyelet holes by hand. I also like the idea of hook and eye tape.

[@randommeasures4618]

Love the alternatives so much more than grommets and excited to start new projects now! Thank you for putting in all the effort to make , test, document, and share these 💖

[@magswilliams-fuller8879]

Or to find the bridal type trim search Rouleau Loops and that will show you all sorts of variations on this type of loop for lacing and buttons.

[@daxxydog5777]

Ooooh, more spicy ankle content! My vintage buttonholer has an eyelet cam.

[@ReinaElizondo]

👀 what machine is that on? I've seen presser feet where you squeeze the eyelet hole on a cone with a notch for zigzagging and turn the fabric manually. But I haven't seen a cam version.

[@questionstar]

The singer featherweight online shop sells reproduction eyelet cams! I got a buttonholer for less than $20 but listings for the eyelet cam specifically are rarer and much pricier, so I was very happy to find newly manufactured ones.

[@theresaanndiaz3179]

I forgot to say the metal lacers that you like are called "speed lacers" when they are used on boots. Western lace up roper style paddock boots use them a lot. The boots have grommets on the foot, then speed lacers up the leg, ending with a grommet at the top. So if you use them in a project, I would recommend a set of grommets at the top and bottom to keep the lacing from coming out.

[@DD47N1]

This was a really cool deep dive into lacing options! There were several I would have never thought of but LOVED the look of them! Thanks for sharing a view down the rabbit hole of your thirst for knowledge! I share in your love of research and options! Appreciate all of your work on this! Now go enjoy a well-earned piece of your yummy cake (mosquito free) and take care until next time!

[@ReinaElizondo]

Also thanks so much for doing all that! I've been thinking about some of these like the shoe lacing hooks for a while and glad to see how well they work! Some fancy cloak clasp hooks might look great in the steampunk vein. And wire wrapping hooks in the fantasy... I'm flat out gonna use the rainbow eyelets idea.

[@emmachizzit9919]

I love that you take the time to investigate and try out all the options. Its like spending time with a very enthusiastic friend. Thanks for sharing.

[@conniemurdoch8528]

When using buttonhole loops you need to put a strip of interfacing down where you are sewing the trim and use short stitches. The one that looks like a knit tube for the loops is the one I liked the least because of tunneling and seam slippage. But the black and white elastic bridal loops are the ones that I e used. Also, since there is a lot of nylon in the loops (or at least when I was sewing bridal wear) you can dye them what ever colour you want if you chose to. I was so disappointed when I thought you didn’t find the bridal loops. But now I’m good!

[@michellecornum5856]

Metal rings -- actual welded little circles sewn mostly on the fabric with an edge left off the fabric. See Morgan Donner : Making A Princess Seam Dress - New And Improved. Sorry if that sounded abrupt, but I'm now in a rabbit hole, thinking about different ways to lace things.

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Very nice everything I ever wanted to know but didn't know I wanted to know! I'm more familiar with snaps and putting them in with a hammer! The only problem with a lot of the snaps sold are that the stabby bits ( really technical wording) aren't always long enough to go through the fabric and get crimped to the other side! This is very important to know if making kids clothes because they aren't nice to closures!!

[@IAmCraftingAgain]

There's other ways of sewing eyeletstoo. You can do buttonhole stitch. Or you can sew a metal ring into the hole in the fabric, using whip stitches. I'd be interested in how that would go. I guess you could make mini welted buttonholes (no one would want to do that). Thanks Charlie, I have only ever made 8 bad handsets eyelets, I'm less scared of grommets now!

[@ReinaElizondo]

Oh yeah, I forgot that I was expecting some metal rings too! There's also the ring being sewn straight onto the fabric as the lacing hole.

[@Chibi-kittenplays]

The one where you don't have to slide through a hole, with the hook, lots of rollerskates and iceskates have those and you can actually do a different pattern for more hold. you go backwards essentially, around the hook instead of the way you feel natural to do it

[@gaymedievaldruid]

These two videos gave me a solution for a problem that's not very much of a problem at all, but it was annoying me, so thank you!

[@miaochs7716]

Thanks. Enjoy the explorations. Newer sewer here. Learning by watching. Enjoy your content

[@wacqjacq]

You've influenced me! I watched you video last Saturday, and later that afternoon I found a Crop-a-dile Big Bite on FB without searching! It was from a neighbor and was only $20. I'm loving this lacing content.

[@zevrxn]

there is a type of trim??? lace??? that has holes for you to pass a satin ribbon in and out of that is really common in older baby stuff that i think could make an alternative for the invisible ribbon lacing

[@ReinaElizondo]

Ooh fun idea! Might still have to sew down the spaced squares to keep tension, but it could work...

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

I am most interestedin the hooks so getting dressed will go quickly. Now to figure out how to keep the tie attached to the garment in the closet between wears.

[@marygersetich8709]

Thank you for an amusing and educational video! With some surprising results. I did not think the elastic trims would hold up.

[@gigglesmurf2004]

I could tell from the first picture of your leg that you are some sort of dancer with that muscle memory. Thank you for doing this.

[@IAmCraftingAgain]

Ribbon method is so simple but so clever ❤

[@liav4102]

Oooo I like the hiddden ribbon option, I wanna use that

[@danielletdg8423]

This is perfect timing as I'm starting to pattern out a Renaissance Faire dress with a laced front for the summer.

[@lynn858]

Thanks for keeping me company while I darned my socks. :)

[@s.fuhrmann]

Some sewing machines have eyelets within the buttonhole makers to save on hand sewing if you want to.

[@jac_and_the_making_of]

Eyelets (the handsewn type) are my favourite. I do them on all my historical (14th c) clothing and those suckers can take some abuse.

[@lynnephelps2370]

I like to use the buttonhole/blanket-stitch on hand-sewn eyelets. It gives a beautiful, even ridge around the outer circumference of the stitching, it's just lovely done this way! If there will be a lot of strain, you can also do the stitches over a loop of cord, same as with a hand-stitched buttonhole.

[@stefflcus]

I have never ever wanted to put lacing in any piece of clothing ever before. But now... I'm reconsidering all my life choices. Also the music in this and the editing of the video TO said music was so very very satisfying. So pleasing!

[@tiinakarmala633]

Someone might have already said this but I think the hook part of the hook and eye could be used as well. It would be more like the open version that you liked to lace and would also be lots of smaller ones that you liked the look of :)

[@daalelli]

Would definitely need the heavy duty of the hooks, I've had so many of the little ones unbend themselves when they are under stress.

[@tiinakarmala633]

@@daalelli I can imagine they would. Depends on the project. So maybe just for something aesthetic and less under heavy strain :)

[@questionstar]

heavier skirt/trouser hooks could work! I imagine the cost adding up real quickly though unfortunately

[@smallminitiny]

Thank you so so much for all your effort from research, to getting all the tools and materials, and all the time and ideas spent on making these + this video compiling and comparing them 😍 it's so useful to see all the options because grommets are indeed intimidating. I'm so glad to see that you enjoyed making these, you're too pure and genuine ♥

[@MsHedgehog]

Thank you for helping me visualize these things 💖 The last ribbon method reminds me of a version of button up fly that I saw on old style miltitary uniform trousers. The buttonholes where made on this wide strip of fabric attached that exact way to the fly front. And I wonder if those bridal webbing eylets are not an continous string of the tube? I think I have seen people using cords to do that too.

[@daalelli]

I believe they are a continuous strip, too.

[@ari.arietty]

This is such a good help! I was thinking of buying some grommet pressers(?) but using tape like that is gonna be so much cheaper!

[@rozanidesignsmasquerade7050]

Great topic❣️ The gauntlets/cuffs are so nicely made. Such fun and very cool options. I enjoy and find it relaxing to hand sew the eyelets. 😍👍

[@ParliamentOfOwls309]

the embroidered eyelets reminded me of flowers, and made me think that if you set them a little further back in the fabric you could embroider around them and actually make them into flowers, which would be super cute

[@mashmore1023]

I just wanted to pop in to say that I did indeed have fun! I love these exploration type videos. I am someone who both loves data and also likes to research and have options, options, options! before I do something.

[@kathyjohnson2043]

Morgan Donner recently used medieval lacing rings in a red kirtle.

[@deborahwilkins3786]

Great video series. I was delighted to see all the options! The Crop-a-dile is also sold to scrapbookers. I would save the hole punch for the paper and do the awl thing with your fabric even with a Crocodile. Much less likely to pull out with all the fibre compressed inside rather than the small edge of cut fibre that can fray out.

[@daalelli]

This is SO HELPFUL!!!!!!! Thank you for taking the time to deep dive lacing options. I love lacing stuff up as the main closure since it gives adjustability of sizing, and it's just so darned pretty. (also, zippers are the devil)

[@SebbieSaurus22]

I always use a buttonhole stitch for my hand-sewn eyelets.

[@lynnephelps2370]

It's wild how each method had such a completely different look/attitude!

[@Rotten_Ralph]

I'm not far enough into the video but I think different lacing styles would be a fun idea for a video, spiral, sneaker, corset, corset fan, stitching laces (very useful for making laced garments smaller, necessary for me the incredible shrinking woman) 😂 I promise that I am not making any of these up. But once you have installed the ability to run ribbon through your garments experiment with the ways to decorate with your laces 😅😊

[@stefflcus]

Okay but... ARE WE GOING TO GET A VIDEO FOR THAT CAKE IT IS *GORGEOUS*.

[@__reneemaof2]

The hidden ribbon is beautiful

[@joyjournal6157]

Loved these two videos! Ta very muchly!

[@KitOfTheWeirdWoods]

Thank you for making these videos, they've been really interesting and I will be trying some of these out at some point! I'm quite interested in trying the ribbon one but with a bias tape made of the main fabric. I also love the look of the hooks, my concern with those would be how adjustable they'd be. You couldn't have a lot of slack in the lacing, in case it unhooks, but if you're choosing where to use them carefully it should be OK.

[@carolinamendezhernandez7225]

I like the embroidered eyelets , the bias and the bottom holes, because that’s what I could do, don’t have any (but a plier) thing but my hands and my sewing machine I like your videos

[@Menita72]

I hate grommets, really appreciate this video. Thank you so muuuuuch ❤, keep doing it 💖

[@BumblingBee-xm4dy]

8:21 lol could just gather the loops with a quarter inch between each on and pin into the seam WITHOUT cutting out individual loops lol they make readymade tape like this too 18:32 thats the readymade stuff i was thinking of lol

[@ReinaElizondo]

I was thinking that too. I call it the snakey version, then when she said she'd worked at bridal places, I was like she probably knows lol.

[@hootiebubbabuddhabelly]

You could also use the hook side of hook and loop tape to lace up narrow cord like your boot lacing grommet-hooks. At any rate, I think grommets are for leather. Which is GOOD because I don't want to mess with them. I actually have an eyelet tool that is like an awl with a sliding stop so you can get all of your eyelets the same size - whatever size you want them to be. It's really old and the seller had no idea what it was so I got it super cheap. Eyelets are for fabric with the laces pulling along with the stronger warp of the fabric. Grommets are for leather where there is no unraveling. You can do small grommets the same way you do eyelets, pushing the weave open, but...why would you? And I LIKE the "sloppy" aspect of your hand sewn eyelets! Plus, true sail-making is done with eyelets as they're the strongest and easily repaired. Modern sails have grommets but one isn't likely to be months away from parts and repairs and modern hobbyists who can afford to sail don't care - they just buy a new one.

[@insanityisorange8659]

The timing of this video is incredible! Literally at the point of working out how to lace up my daughters randomly designed wedding dress! She wants lace up ' but i dont want it to look corsetlike' !!! And grommets are out because grommets and arthritic hands do not work! Ty ty ty!!!

[@CM-xn6xc]

That was fun, thanks!

[@dar4835]

Another awesome video. Great job on the different "grommets." The one set with the different colored grommets on them would look cute with the outfit from the box your sister sent. It goes with the colors on your sleeves 😍 Im going to check her site now to see how she used what you sent her!

[@TAZKs]

Loved hearing your rendition of Walking in the Air there ar the end😂 Thank you for doing all this research for us!

[@G.H._bunny]

Thank you for this it's so helpful. I'd like to make corset tops and try out lacing in other garments but I don't want to spend money on the tools for grommets. These are great options that I would have not thought of.

[@makeitdontbreakit]

I actually really loved the button hole eyelet, gonna give that one a try!

[@georgiacorey954]

Interesting. Im getting ready to do a small canvas awning for camping. I'm thinking the loops look more durable than large grommets, which I've already purchased.

[@tamaragordy322]

I really enjoy your videos. On the speed lacing/hook grommets, there’s an adaptation while lacing that will keep your tension more secure. The wording on this will be tricky, but let me give it a try. The natural tendency is to pull the lace through the hook in the direction you want to go, but try taking the lace through the opposite direction so that it wraps each hook. If you look up how professional skaters speed lace their skates it will help explain. When skating (whether figure skating, roller skating, or hockey) you don’t want to lose tension and you want to keep it where you put it so your ankles stay secure. There are a lot of clothing applications where this can also be helpful. ❤️🛼🧵🪡🔨🪛🪚❤

[@Eneri-z9v]

Your cake 🎂 resembles something I would definitely eat😋😊. With either tea 🍵 and/or ice cream 🍨. This whole video is an exercise in cuteness 😊. More please 😌 .

[@jinnygreenwood2681]

There are also lacing rings, they were more prevalent in historical garments. Morgan Donner ( I think ) uses them in some of her stuff.

[@MartinSchnak]

it is so funny you look like my twin ...wow i have seen a video from an Indian tailor : you take a long string ( Satin for expel ) do NOT cut it!you place it like a S SSSS , but from up to bottom like a snake would go down ... half circle show, half circle is hidden , half circle ( loop?) show, half loop is hide... it is easy because you need just on line sew over the S in the middle and stable because it is on long string.... I hope you can understand ... greeting from Germany

[@JoyannLuithly]

This was so helpful, thank you! Love your videos

[@dawnmoriarty9347]

Enjoyable video again. Thank you

[@janellfree3127]

Thanks so much! I didn't know about some of these options. ❤

[@SerendipityWyrd]

This was a really useful exploration! Thanks!

[@nickiecarlson1837]

First of all, excellent toe point! And it definitely helps to have a very attractive ankle. Thank you for exploring this, so in-depth! I never thought of half of these options.

[@robynwatt4291]

Just what I wanted. Such a cool video.

[@conniehubbard2142]

Loved this whole demonstration. I made beach bags for all my family this summer, only to have the 1/2 inch grommets fall out!! I just used the kit…doesn’t work!! Now I am wondering if the crocodile will work either?? Help!!

[@ReinaElizondo]

I've also seen people use a bit of e6000 glue to make sure it stays after you set the grommet properly. Not very couture but strong lol. Just have to be careful not to put too much and not glue anything you don't want glued.

[@niathomas6508]

Love this video so much! Thank you ❤

[@SustainingRain]

this is amazing, thank you for documenting the process. did you ever figure out something to do with all the ankle cuffs?

[@charitycellist]

this was so interesting!! i loved it!

[@LittleDizzyGirl]

When you were using the crop-a-dile, i thought the hole might have been too big for some of the eyelets. That could've been why the one failed. If they aren't snug around the hole, they can wiggle loose

[@signorabeatrice]

I've always been told/heard that for any eyelet/grommet, you shouldn't cut the fabric, but should use an awl and spread the fibers, so as not to weaken the place where the hardware is being placed. I can't help but wonder if that's what's failing in the smallest grommets that were pulling out, where the fabric hole has weakened the fabric and there isn't enough solid fabric for the smaller metal eyelets to grip....