Sewing comfortable and practical curtains with eyelets will not be difficult if you know a few important rules and nuances. In this article we will give you step-by-step instructions that explain how to install eyelets on curtains with your own hands.
The main advantage of curtains with such fastening is ease of use and care.
How to sew curtains with eyelets
Today everyone understands that things should not only be beautiful, but also multifunctional. These, without a doubt, include curtains, which should be both simple and elegant. In this regard, many people prefer to decorate their premises with curtains with eyelets.
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Such curtains have gained their popularity due to the fact that they:
- almost invisible, and the fabric, at the same time, takes the form of identical uniform folds;
- ideal for decorating a window opening;
- easy to open and close, thanks to which they wear out less, which ensures a long service life;
- look equally good in an apartment, office, as well as other rooms;
- versatile and original.
FOURTH STEP
The simplest and shortest.
What we have ironed needs to be stitched.
This way we will hide the glued grommet tape inside. (And we won’t tell anyone about this!)) Now you understand why the top cut, as I wrote above, should already be processed. So as not to disturb the freshly glued fabric once again and nothing will come off there.
I have an edge. And I didn't process it.
We attach, retreating 0.5 cm from the edge.
Don't forget to walk along the top side too! (Experienced seamstresses can hide it inside, like on the waistband of trousers or skirts, for example. I’m already starting to get dirty).
Attaching the top of the curtain
USEFUL NOTE. The glued eyelet tape tightens the fabric, so the fabric may ripple above and below it. Iron as much as you can. The remaining folds will have to be attached carefully, but symmetrically to the pattern. Try)
What types of eyelets are there?
Typically, they are round, with a minimum diameter of 15 mm and a maximum of 60 mm.
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In addition to a circle, fastenings can have the following shape:
- square, triangle and other geometric shapes;
- snowflakes, stars, silhouettes of animals, as well as other complex configurations.
a) square; b) triangular
Depending on the material of manufacture, they are divided into:
- plastic;
- wooden;
- metal.
Which rings are better, metal or plastic?
Many people believe that plastic rings are better than metal ones. They explain this by saying:
- they are easier to install because they snap easily into place, requiring no special equipment;
- After prolonged use, there is no trace left on the curtains, as they do not rust.
Proponents of metal eyelets argue that if the rings are made of high quality ferrous or non-ferrous metal, then the above mentioned comments have no meaning. Plus, the following products:
- stronger;
- more reliable;
- may last longer.
Such curtains fit perfectly into a modern interior.
Step-by-step instruction
In order to qualitatively sew curtains on eyelets with your own hands, the step-by-step instructions for performing this work must be strictly followed.
Sewing curtains on eyelets with your own hands involves the following steps:
- taking all measurements and calculating the required amount of fabric;
- determination of the number of fasteners;
- processing of tissue sections;
- correct installation.
Instructions for sewing curtains with eyelets
Calculation of fabric for curtains
After taking the necessary measurements from the window, you need to go to the store to select and purchase the material. In order for the curtains to look beautiful and have uniform drapery waves, you need to buy a large amount of fabric: as a rule, they take 2.5 - 3 times the width of the window opening. Less is absolutely impossible, because then you can’t count on beautiful drapery, smooth curves, and waves. If you take about 4 times more, then you can also forget about beautiful decor, since the extra weight and bulkiness will not contribute to decorative decoration.
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Determining the number of eyelets
You need to remember the most important point at this stage of work: there must always be an even number of grommet rings! For example, 8, 10 or more.
Plus, the required number is calculated so that:
- the edges of the curtains were always facing the window wall;
- the curtains were not too tight and moved freely along the pipe. To do this, the distance between the centers of the holes should be within 16 - 22 cm;
- on both sides of the curtain, the distance from its edge to the first rings should not exceed 6-7 cm.
And finally: they are installed when the curtain is completely ready.
How to properly process fabric sections
When processing cuts, you need to take into account that the edges of the curtain need to be lined and stitched. Therefore, when taking measurements, you need to add 2-3 cm on the sides and the same amount on the bottom. According to the recommendations of experienced professionals, the top of the curtain must first be folded by 2-3 cm, and then another 6-10 cm for gluing the grommet tape. This is due to the installation of rings in the upper part, which can be more conveniently and securely fastened to two layers of fabric. You need to start processing from the top seam.
To do this you need:
- prepare a flat surface for laying out the future curtain;
- make a mark of 2-3 cm on the fabric, then iron it on the wrong side;
- Tuck the fabric again to the width of the grommet tape, which is placed between the layers of the future curtain;
- Using an iron, carefully glue it with this tape and run a sewing machine along the lapel at a distance of 2-3 mm from the edge.
Then you need to stitch along the entire perimeter of the entire fabric, stepping back 2-3 mm from the edge of the lapel. When processing cuts, you need to take into account that the diameter of the cornice should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the rings (by about 15 mm) so that the curtains can move easily and unhindered. If this ratio of diameters is made smaller, then the fasteners will stick tightly to the cornice and cling to it, which can result in damage to the curtains and the cornice themselves.
Materials and tools for installing grommet rings
Not everyone knows how to sew curtains with eyelets with their own hands, and many even think that this is something extraordinary. Nothing like this. Everything can be easily done at home yourself. To do this, you need to purchase the necessary materials, tools, and also have a great desire. Therefore, if these three points are fulfilled, then the problem of how to make curtains with eyelets with your own hands will be solved quickly and efficiently.
To complete this job, you need to stock up on:
- curtain fabric;
- grommets;
- scissors or a sharp chipper;
- pencil or chalk;
- grommet tape, which can be replaced with non-woven fabric or dublerin;
- iron.
In addition, you need to have a sewing machine and basic skills to operate it.
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How to insert eyelets correctly?
The installation stage is the most critical. The aesthetic appearance, correctness, and ease of functioning of the entire curtain system depend on it. Therefore, before you put grommets on the curtains with your own hands, you need to mark everything correctly.
a) cutting holes; b) ring insert
Begin installing fasteners from the end product.
To do this you need:
- Using a pencil or chalk, mark the center of future holes;
- place the ring and draw a line along the inner circumference;
- using scissors or a very sharp chipper, make a hole with a diameter 1-2 mm larger than the previously drawn circle;
- place the first part of the fastener under the fabric, and the second one on top and lightly squeeze both components of the fastener until the characteristic sound of a latch appears;
- Mark the centers of all other circles, then carefully snap all the rings into place.
The curtain is ready for use.
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What you will need
Sewing original curtains is easy if you first stock up on the necessary tools and materials.
To make the curtains itself you will need:
- textile;
- sharp tailor's scissors;
- a narrow piece of dry soap or chalk;
- pins, needles;
- tape measure or ruler;
- threads;
- sewing machine.
To install eyelets you will need:
- even number of bushings;
- hammer;
- rubber gasket;
- special adhesive tape.
To avoid problems with fastening parts, you need to carefully consider the choice of eyelets.
Which grommets to use for sewing curtains
Metal and plastic components are available on sale. Each option has advantages and disadvantages:
- Plastic. Well suited for light fabrics, they glide along the curtain rod almost silently. After washing they leave no traces of rust. The bushings are easy to install; no special equipment or physical effort is required. But such details are short-lived.
- Metal. They look impressive and can withstand the weight of heavy curtain materials. However, when the fabric gets wet, the eyelets oxidize, a process that leads to the appearance of yellow spots. The movement of the curtain is often accompanied by an unpleasant creaking sound.
Metal bushings
For sewing curtains, eyelets with a diameter of 1.5 - 6 cm are used. Regardless of the choice, buy bushings 1.5 - 2 cm larger than the coverage of the cornice.
Why do you need a special tape?
There are 2 options:
- Textile. Used to seal fabric in fold areas that are subject to wear. Sew to the base by hand or using a sewing machine.
- Glue. The best choice when installing grommets. For a strong adhesion, simply apply it to the desired area of the material and iron it with a hot iron.
A tape 7–8 cm wide is suitable for installing eyelets.
Fabric selection
It all depends on the interior and the preferences of the designer. To create deep folds, it is better to buy thick fabric that holds its shape well. You can use light cotton materials that are simply starched during washing. Eyelets look great even on tulle.
Exceptions:
- Velor and velvet. Soft and heavy fabrics are easily deformed in the places where the bushings are attached and do not form clear folds.
- Tulle with large cells. It is difficult to install eyelets on such material.
When purchasing, take into account the size of the future curtain. The cut should be 1.5 - 2 times wider than the cornice. The height of the curtain is determined by the owner of the apartment, but it is necessary to take it with reserve:
- to process the lower part you need an allowance of 2 cm;
- for the top 10 – 20 cm.
Having prepared all the tools and materials, they begin to create an original composition.
How to install eyelets yourself
In order for grommets installed at home to look like factory ones, you need to be patient and persistent. Before you figure out how to install eyelets on curtains with your own hands, you need to understand their design.
So, the fastening consists of a block and a ring. There are also eyelets consisting of two rings, fastened with a snap, which is very convenient, practical, and reliable.
a) fastening from a block and a ring; b) set of 2 rings
Before installation, you need to prepare a hard, flat surface, preferably wooden, made of soft wood.
How to install eyelets on curtains with your own hands:
- Flare the tubular part of the ring. This can be done with a ball of the appropriate diameter from the bearing, as well as with a rounded head of a bolt or screw. Quite often, some craftsmen use a rounded furniture handle.
- Cut a hole with scissors and insert the block, then insert it into the ring.
- Flare the block tube halfway, then gently hit it with a hammer until the end of the tubular part.
Wise advice: do not flare on a rubber base, as incorrect deformations of the ring and block may occur.
Marking and preparing holes
Before installing fasteners, you should mark the product. The eyelets should be installed at intervals to prevent sagging of the material between them. Having placed the inserted grommet in the right place, circle it (the sleeve along the outer edge or the ring along the inner edge).
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Then the holes are prepared. If their diameter is small, the holes can be pierced with an awl. Sometimes a hole punch is used for piercing. To prepare larger holes, punches are used. If there is no suitable tool, you can use a specially made homemade one. To do this, you need to select a tube of a suitable diameter and sharpen one of its edges. The hole should be such that the grommet bushing is inserted tightly, but does not cause tears or deformation of the material. It is convenient to punch holes on a piece of thin rubber or linoleum.
If the holes need to be large, make a cross-shaped cut with scissors and then cut out the excess material. The bushings should be inserted from the front side, and the rings should be put on from the back. The installation of plastic fasteners ends here.
Video of installing plastic eyelets with your own hands:
How to wash curtains with eyelets?
You need to not only know how to sew curtains, but how to care for them after installation. The curtain looks new and fresh if it is washed and clean. So, how to wash curtains with eyelets?
If they are made by a factory method, then the instructions should indicate an icon regarding the prohibition or permission of machine washing. Although, even in such cases, for safety reasons (so as not to damage the machine drum), they need to be placed in a special bag in which they will be kept during washing. If it is not available, use a pillowcase. Usually washed on a gentle cycle.
To wash by hand, first soak them in warm water for several hours. After this, rinse the products thoroughly so that there are no streaks left from powders or soap. Some housewives recommend using shampoo instead of traditional laundry detergents: it definitely won’t cause any streaks.
It is not recommended to wring out curtains after washing. To do this, you just need to hang them wet to ensure natural ironing under the influence of the gravity of the water.
