How do you get bigger eyelets?

[clockworklady42]

So I'm handsewing my eyelets. I know glutton for punishment there. Anyway...I started off with a stiletto awl, so fa so good, then onto a pencil, then a knitting needle. Now That's where I come unstuck. It just won't stretch any further.

Comments

[mala_14]

If you look at period examples you can see that those sort of eyelets just tend to be small. I use a size 11 knitting needle to get decent-sized eyelets and make my whip-stitches really tight to pull open the hole, going around twice and putting the knitting needle through again while sewing the stitches so that the hole doesn't close up again. But I also use a 1/8" ribbon for lacing. Because you're stretching apart the threads to make the eyelets, they will only stretch so far before breaking. If you want the look of handsewn eyelets but with bigger holes, an option is putting in grommets and then whip-stitching or blanket-stitching over them. Good luck!

[dcwttaoo1]

I would love to know what you did to fix your problem.

[clockworklady42]

Well can't make the eyelets bigger so have to fork out for smaller lacing. :/

[dcwttaoo1]

i know a few people who like to use ribbon for lacing. Is that an option? Or maybe 5' boot shoe laces?

[rabid_bookwyrm]

One thing I've found that helps a little is whipping four or six stitches around the whole eyelet before doing the tighter reinforcement stitching. It can help hold the space open while you work your way around.

They still won't be huge, though.