A grommet is a metal ring inserted into a hole through fabric.
Curtains made with grommets have a modern look and are easy to open and close.
The grommets can be attached with a special tool kit that is available at most craft and hardware stores or, if you are a crafty person, you can do it by hand easily.
Making your own grommet curtains
Here are a few simple steps on making grommet curtains.
Tip: If you are not a professional curtain maker, then you must always test the process first. Using grommets entail cutting holes into the fabric. That means if you are not used to it yet, then you may end up wasting your fabric or the grommets. You do not want that, do you?
So better try it on a small piece of your fabric first, check the thickness of the fabric, and when you’re not happy on the first try, you can always try again; only on the sample fabric and not on your curtain fabric itself.
Materials and tools you will need:
Light to medium weight curtain fabric | Matching thread | Grommets | Grommet tool kit | Rubber mallet | Curtain rod
Measure how much fabric you will need. You will need to mount the curtain rod first above your window so you can measure the entire length from the rod down to the bottom where you want the curtain to end.
Ensure that the fabric width should be about double the width of the window. For hemming, add about 8 to 10 inches to the length at top and bottom.
You can get fabric normally by the yard, so you may have to buy a little extra. Before you do any cutting, make sure you pre-shrink the fabric.
When you got the fabric cut and ready, lay the top of the fabric flat your ironing board or worktable.
Cut drapery header tape the same length of the upper edge of the fabric. With the top of the fabric, align the tape properly; then fold it and iron. Then again, fold the fabric with the header tape inside, and iron. Sew the bottom edge to seal the tape and keep it in place.
Make the hems for the curtain the same way, but without the header tape. Check the sides of the fabric and if there is a need to finish it, sew narrow seams.
Lay the top of the fabric flat again, and space an even number of grommets along the top. Ensure that the gaps between each grommet are not too far apart or too close to each other. A good size gap would be 6-8 inches.
With each grommet, trace the inner circle on the fabric, then cut out the circle of fabric. A grommet tool would be a lot of help here as u can use it this time to define the circle. Some kits even come with the hole cutter.
Place one-half of the grommet on top of the circle and another on the bottom. On the front of the fabric should be the side where the grommet sticks out. Using the grommet tool, snap them together. Ensure that all the grommets face only one direction.
Repeat the same process with the other curtains.
When all are done, you may slide the curtain rod through the grommets. Now you’re ready to hang your new curtains. Click here to learn more.
Where to buy
Now, if you are the type who does not have the time to do your own curtains for whatever reason, here are places you can check out where you can get them:
The Shade Store offers custom-made curtains with varying shades of different colors, materials and sizes. A simple single 30”-width panel with a standard length size of 72” made of all natural cotton, no lining, with chrome grommet finish would average about $200.
The Curtain Shop on the other hand has a beautiful array of indoor and outdoor curtain panels that are tab-topped, light, and airy. Made from voile that is polyester-treated, this type of curtain panel is water-repellant and fade and mildew resistant. Discounted prices start from $23.98.