How To Use Snap-on Grommets
You've seen grommets many times: on apparel, bags, athletic gear, etc. They're those metal circles with some type of rope or cording woven through at a closure point. Well...things are beginning to change in the world of grommets (bet you didn't know there was a world of grommets ... did ya?!). Dritz® Home has a great product available for home décor enthusiasts, snap-on Curtain Grommets. Fast, fashionable and functional.
The industrial installation of metal grommets usually involves a large, also metal, machine, which uses an intense force of weighted pressure to secure these circles in place. You may have also seen metal grommets in your local fabric and craft stores that require you to purchase a metal tool (looks something like a pair of pliers) to install them on your home projects.
The Dritz® Home snap-on grommets require NO tools. They come in various sizes, colors, and finishes. You'll have no problem matching your selected fabric. They're packed in sets of 8 and include a plastic see-through template for positioning (we really liked this!). You'll be delighted to know that these are incredibly easy to install.
Grommeted curtains have traditionally been associated with a modern style interior. However, we've noticed them showing up in home furnishing stores and catalogs more and more lately, and in fabric styles that blend with all types of interiors. Grommets are an easy way to hang a curtain from a rod, they're functional (you can actually open and close the curtain without sweating), and they look clean and sleek.
And ... who said grommets can only be used on a window curtain? For our sample test, we decided to give them a try in on a bathroom shower curtain.
- To start, pair the grommets. There's actually a front ('raised center' side) and a back ('prong' side).
- Use the included plastic template to mark the position of each grommet on the header of your shower curtain. Grommets are a ‘final' step, which means your curtain should be finished and ready to hang prior to marking and inserting the grommets. The template has a cross-hair to help determine the center of each circle. However, we discovered it would be more helpful if the template had a small center hole for marking. So, we used an awl to make that hole.
- Determine the overall positioning of your grommets across the top of your curtain, making note of the distance from center point to center point. Using a see-through ruler and the template, we marked the center points and traced the circles.
- We decided to zig zag the marked circle before cutting it out. Why? Because we learned these grommets easily snap on and off for laundering. Cool. But, we wanted to be sure the fabric wouldn't fray when we washed our shower curtain. The zig zag reinforces the cut edges.
- Cut out the circle close to the zigzag stitching. Fold the sewn circle in half and make a ½" slit. Then, cut around the circle.
- With the wrong side facing up, insert snap grommets. Place the 'raised center' side of the grommet in the circle so the ridge of the ring pokes up around the inside edge of the circle.
- Snap the 'prong' side of the grommet on to complete. Done!
- If you decide to remove your grommets for laundering, just find a small flathead screwdriver or even a letter opener. Slide the end into the tiny slot on the back side grommet. Twist the screwdriver slightly, and the grommet will snap off.
We had some leftover grommets after we completed our shower curtain project, and figured there must be a lot of other great uses for these. Sure enough, we found a number of handbag and tote patterns where grommets are used. Sweet!
Hi, Thanks for the tip about spacing. How far from the edge of the curtain should the first grommet begin?
@ PamC - there are a number of variables, so I can't give you a hard and fast rule, it will depend on the type of fabric you're using, how much interfacing you've done, if there's a lining, how many and what size grommets you're using, etc. etc. - in general, most people come in just beyond the side hem.
these are fabulous - the easiest part of my curtain project, 5 stars !!
I've used the grommets for bedroom curtains and they turned out great. The only trouble I had was trying to decide how much space should be between each grommet. I had to wing it. Is there a standard space between centers of the grommets or is there some calculation I should be using? Thanks
Spacing is best set to be a multiple of your fabric width. Generally a minimum of 4" to 8" and which is determined by your grommet size. A 2" grommet for a 1 3/8" pole would need 2.5" just for grommet thus 4" does not allow fullness and draping between grommet. Best to use minimum of 6" spacing for 2". 8" spacing would be for 2" dia poles. Also always use even number of grommets per panel so starts with side hem turned back to window wall at both ends.
@ Barbinswflorida - there aren't any secrets other than even spacing that we know of. If you have formal pleated drapes, then you do need to center a grommet within each pleat, but we do not consider ourselves the be-all-end-all experts when it comes to formal window treatments; that is an art in itself. But, if you are going for a casual look, simply evenly space the grommets, and remember that the closer they are, the smaller and softer the "folds" when you open the curtains - the farther apart they are, the deeper the folds.
I have tried to use the grommets on some drapery fabric I purchased, cannot get any of them to snap so I gave up and got the clip on round rings, had to remake the drapes because I cut the holes in the top. Very frustrating.
Will not try again.
I used these grommets in 2 large bags/purses (the straps went through them) and they looked great. Unfortunately because of the sizes of the bags, the people put many things in them and the weight of the contents pulled the fabric out of the rings. With both bags I ended up removing the fabric that the holes were cut in and replacing it and redoing how the straps were. Any suggestions in how to keep that from happening?
@ Betteboop708 - We haven't tested these grommets under super heavy-duty circumstances. I don't know enough about your bag design, the fabric used, or the stress the grommets were put under, but in general, if you know they're going to take a lot of weight, you probably want to reinforce the insertion point with heavyweight stabilizer. Also -- these grommets are meant to release so they can to popped off to allow easy laundering. If you don't ever want them to be removed, you might try a test with a few drops of glue between the two halves.
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those are 2 of the bags I made, and have thought that next time I would try some glue.....the pink and brown bag was all cotton and the dark bag was cordoroy, both lined in cotton and interfaced with fusible fleece.
I just finished my first project, curtains, using the snap on grommets. Honestly, they truly do work. Don’t try and snap them together by pinching between your fingers… lay the grommet on a flat surface and press the two sides together, with the fabric in between the two rings, with the palm of your hand.
A couple of “lessons learned” that I thought I would share.
Dritz, the manufacture of the grommets, say that you can use the grommets without sewing along the line that you created using the template. I did take the recommendation of Sew4Home, since I was using a lining (2 layers of fabric) for the curtains, but none of my zigzag stitching was a perfect as shown above. If you do decide to stitch, go slow and take your time. If you stray too far away from the line your stitching can show beyond the grommet ring. Luckily my thread blended with the fabric.
Last little tid-bit. When using grommets make sure you always use an even number of grommets on a curtain panel or shower curtain. You always want a “mate” for each grommet so the side edge of the panel “points” towards the wall (hopefully that makes sense).
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