Grommets... Done!

For a little over $100, there's an industrial strength, table mounted grommet setting tool. If I were making corsets professionally, I might invest in one. But for now, I still do the grommets by hand -- one at a time. This is an enjoyable hobby, a stress releaser, and a way to exercise my brain.

Here is my funky little tool set:  a tack hammer, a grommet setter, my new ergonomic awl, a chopstick, and of course the lovely antique brass 00 size grommets + washers.

I did a few last night and finished the rest early this morning. I'm sorry, neighbors, for the incessant "tink-tink-tink" noise! There's a total of 26 holes in this corset. I timed myself and it took roughly 45 minutes each side. Each hole is tenderly pried open with the awl, expanded with the chopstick, and grommet + washer is gently tapped in.

This is a view of the inside (the coutil) layer. The advantages of the special corset grommets are that they are smaller than the jumbo ones sold at JoAnn's or Hancock Fabrics, yet larger than the hideous eyelets that need to be squeezed with the hand-hurting pliers type tool. Also, they don't split open like a daisy, but fit really nicely into the washers so they are smooth on both sides.

Of course there are mistakes. I won't point them out because they're not so bad. It still looks really good from the outside.

And I am loving the color of the antique brass grommets on this turquoise-brown satin!