Adding grommets to curtains

Grommets are one way to hang curtains. I really like how they look, the simplicity of using them, and how they create such nice folds with ease.These plastic grommets are incredibly quick and easy. If you’ve ever battled with metal grommets in a project, don’t let that scare you. These require no tools and they just snap right into place.

To see Part 1 of this project (cutting and calculations), click here.To see Part 2 of this project (assembling and sewing), click here.

Supplies

(Click fabrics for direct links for purchase at Warehouse Fabrics Inc.)

Roc-Lon Black Out Drapery Lining

Hanes 5 oz. Drapery Interlining

Zig Zag Village Brown / Natural

Grommets - 1" plastic

4" drapery header
To determine the amount of fabric you’ll need and how to cut your panels, please see Part 1 of this project.To see the sewing instructions for these curtains, please see Part 2 of this project.

For these curtains, I used 10 grommets in each panel. They came in packs of 8, so I had to buy 3 packages.

VERY IMPORTANT: You must use an even number of grommets in order for your curtains to hang properly.

Drapery header is like a stiff interfacing that comes in a narrow roll.

The process

I used these Dritz Home 1″ plastic curtain grommets. They come in a pack of 8. I used a total of 20 (10 per panel).
You need an even number on each panel or your curtain will not hang right. This is of the utmost importance.
Included with the packaging is a plastic template.
You need to evenly space your grommets. Here’s what I did: First, I set the top of each grommet 1-1/4″ from the top of the curtain. The outermost grommets are set in 1-1/4″ from either side (that would be the left side of the left grommet and right side of the right grommet are 1-1/4″ from respective edges.)
To figure out the rest of them, measure from the right side of the leftmost grommet to the right side of the rightmost grommet. See how I laid my tape measure out? Usually grommets are placed about 4.5″ apart. So I knew 10 would be a good number for this panel. So I figured out the distance (right edge to right edge) of the outer grommets and divided by 10. I ended up setting mine 5-1/4″ apart.

I made marks 5-1/4″ apart for each one to designate the righthand side of the grommet and then used my template to draw the circle.

I used pencil to mark the circles, and it’s really hard to see. Sorry about that. I seem to lose my fabric marker every 5 minutes. I should really just buy about a dozen of those.
Pinch each circle in the center …
… and snip a little slash into it.
That gives you a starting point to cut. Cut out each hole. Do NOT cut too big. Better to cut a little too small and adjust later.
After doing one panel, lay it on top of the other one and mark your circles.
The grommets I used look like this. One side is spiky and the other is smooth.
From the front side, insert the smooth side of the grommet.
Then take the spiky side and snap it on by pressing down with the palm of your hand. On carpet, this was a bit harder. I took my big, square quilting ruler and placed it underneath so I had a harder surface and it was easy-peasy.
From the front it looks like this. Now, if you notice that somehow a raw edge of your cut-out circle got folded back and is sticking out on this side, just grab a flat-head screwdriver. On the back side, there is a small slot to stick it in and pop the grommet open so you can redo it.
Thread your grommets onto your rod in pairs that basically form the folds. You’ll be going in the front of one grommet and in the back of the next, then front/back, front/back. If this is confusing, you’ll see what I mean when you start doing it. If you start by going in the back of the first grommet, the side of the curtain will stick out instead of going toward the wall.