Eyelets - what are they? These are metal fittings in the form of rings for fabric. The element itself consists of a block and a ring. This fastening was invented in the middle of the 20th century, and it was originally intended to secure sails on ships. However, over time, metal fittings began to be widely used in sewing women's clothing, shoes, bags. Eyelets took a special place in the field of interior design, namely in the design of windows with products with a diameter of 40 mm made in Taiwan.
Content
What are the varieties?
At the stage of planning the window decoration, you need to understand what eyelets are and what types they come in. The metal fittings themselves can be of different shapes and sizes. Bushings are distinguished based on the following parameters:
- Size. The diameter of the rings starts from 4-5 mm, they are called "Piccolo Rings", they are widely used in printing. The maximum diameter is 8 cm. Small ones are used to create clothes, shoes and bags. Large ones are used for advertising banners. For curtains, rings with a diameter of no more than 7 cm are usually chosen.
The thickness of the fabric on which the product can be installed depends on the height of the eyelet edge. - Form. As a rule, round ones of medium diameter were used for hanging curtains, but today you can find different forms: oval, square, triangular. Often for children's rooms they make bushings in the form of animals, and for showers - fish or steering wheels for curtains.
Regardless of the shape of the curtain eyelet, the hole in it is always round. - The material from which the eyelets are made. These can be metal, plastic, wooden bushings. Metal ones can be chromed, matte and glossy, made from different alloys and metals, for example, eyelets 1711 made of nickel.
These duvers go well with the chromed curtain rod pipe. - Color. There are many colors of bushings, these can be both simple black and multi-colored inserts. Products that imitate another material, such as stone, wood, glass. Initially, you need to decide on the color of the foroffice.
The color of the rings should be in harmony with the color and texture of the cornice.
Please note that the choice of product shape, color and texture is determined by the color scheme, type and purpose of the selected curtains. The style of the interior design of the room is also important, for example, for office and eyelets for home are different things.
One way or another, the fittings should be in harmony with the color of the curtains or walls in the room. Depending on the original design solution, the bushings can either maximally match the color, style of the selected fabric, or, on the contrary, successfully contrast with them.
Advantages
Among other methods of attaching curtain fabric to the cornice, the use of metal rings is considered the most reliable, despite the fact that individual elements can be purchased at retail. The eyelet decorates the curtains. What it is can be seen in the photo.
Advantages of the product:
- the curtain slides silently and without problems along the cornice;
- the curtain is protected from sagging and mechanical damage;
- you can create aesthetic, even, decorative folds on curtains;
- the curtain can be quickly taken down and hung up again;
- Washing curtain fabric does not create any problems.
An absolute advantage is the quick installation of products, including at home.
Eyelets for “soft windows”
Soft windows are curtains made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) number 1, they perform the function of a window on summer terraces and verandas, and, in fact, are an alternative to conventional windows. The fittings for such windows should be beautiful and allow the structure to be securely fastened.
The following types of fasteners were invented for canvas windows:
- eyelets with prym fastening brackets;
- belts - fixators, rectangular in shape;
- magnetic clasps;
- rollers for collecting the canvas into a roll;
- metal guide blocks, rotary brackets.
The advantage of installing screw-on fasteners on soft windows at the top of the curtain is that, if necessary, the curtain can be rolled up and secured with straps.
Eyelet tape
This tape consists of a hot-melt adhesive material 2-3 cm wider than the diameter of the rings. The tape can be of different textures - a special transparent tape was invented for light curtains.
Important! Adhesive tape is an optional element. Before purchasing a strip, make sure that the design idea is impossible without this very strip. Sometimes, sealing with additional pads spoils the appearance.
In what cases is it used:
- Textured strip is used to thicken the fabric at the top of the curtain. This is especially important when creating grabs at home.
- Curtains with a lining made of iron-on tape are easier to apply appliqués and decorative elements to.
- These strips are especially often used to add neatness to the edges of Roman curtains.
How to glue the tape yourself
First, let's look at what types of tape are available on the market.
- Single-layer. On one side of the curtain there is a strip of glue. Under the influence of the iron, the adhesive mass melts and sticks to the fabric.
- Double-layer. They are fixed much more reliably than the first ones because the adhesive mass is applied to both sides of the tape. To protect the iron, the side of the adhesive strip for ironing is protected by a special heat-resistant mesh.
To glue one-sided tape to curtains, follow this algorithm:
- At the top of the curtain, measure two widths of tape. Fold the fabric so that the two wrong sides touch each other. Then iron.
The curtain will have an ironed strip like this - Place the reinforcing tape with the adhesive side down on the edge of the resulting fold. Start ironing. You need to iron very carefully, without allowing the strip to shift.
The fold should completely cover the tape. - Wait until the treated area of fabric has cooled completely.
- Carefully remove excess tape and protruding elements.
- A few centimeters above the bottom edge of the tape, stitch on a sewing machine. This is necessary for additional fixation of the strip.
How to install it yourself
If desired, the products can be installed independently. To do this, a hole is punched in the fabric. Then, an insert is inserted into the hole from the back side of the fabric, and a washer from the front side, after which the eyelet structure is fixed (it is enough to press on the washer, then the bushing until a slight click). If double-sided curtains are selected, the sides of the bushing and washer do not matter.
To ensure smooth movement of the curtain along the curtain rod, experts advise, when choosing fittings, to give preference to products whose internal diameter is 1.5 cm larger than the diameter of the curtain rod.
In addition to prepared, well-ironed curtains and the fittings themselves, you will need:
- tape measure;
- needle, thread;
- punch for creating holes;
- scissors;
- pencil for marking fabric.
Formula for calculating the number of holes
Before starting work, you should determine the curtain model and the required number of bushings.
Calculating holes is one example proving that school math lessons can be useful for solving quite everyday problems. For example, there is a special formula for calculating the number of bushings for a curtain (x):
x = (a - 2c): 18 + 1, where:
- a – curtain width;
- c – the distance from the edge of the curtain to the center of the rings located at the edge of the fabric.
If the calculations result in an odd number, it is rounded up to an even number. Having decided on the required amount of fittings, you can start working.
How to determine the distance
The distance between the holes in the fabric largely depends on its type and quality. Most often, it is from 15 to 22 cm.
If we are talking about light flowing fabric, the holes should be located at a distance of no more than 15 cm, for heavy thick curtains - at least 20-22 cm. When double-sided, thick fabric for curtains is chosen, the best option would be a step of 18 cm.
When installing side rings, another rule applies. They should not be located at the very edge of the curtain, but at the same time they will not look good at a significant distance from it. Therefore, a step of 2-6 cm will be optimal.
Algorithm of actions
- Apply markings to the canvas, using a pencil to indicate the locations of the holes to be punched.
We calculate the required number of holes - Secure the top of the curtain rod with tape.
We outline the contours of the inner holes of the eyelets - Punch holes in accordance with the markings and install the products.
Carefully cut out the fabric with sharp scissors - Carefully clean the inside from excess threads.
We fix the eyelet rings on the back side of the curtain
Then all that remains is to attach the curtains to the cornice and correctly form the folds on the curtains.
Browse the photo gallery of interiors with interesting designer curtains. The photo allows you to appreciate the depth of the folds of the portraits and the harmonious combination of fittings with exquisite materials of different colors.
Video on how to install eyelets on curtains yourself
Curtains with eyelets in the interior
