I've used grommets on fabric without the tool.

With a small scissors tip, I made the hole a little smaller diameter than the grommet. I then insert grommet and gently hammer it closed, first cover it with a piece of fabric so the grommet does not get scratched . A rubber mallet might be good to use, if you have one...

If you buy a packet of grommets from a fabric store, they usually come with a little tool, so all you need to put them on is the tool and a hammer. If you are not sure, ask someone who works at the fabric store.

A lot of you seem to be referring to what are actually eyelets as "grommets". There is a practical difference: eyelets are a one-piece item, where you insert the eyelet through a pre-punched hole, insert the setting tool and hammer the end, so the eyelet curls back on itself. They rarely set perfectly, and little bits of fabric usually poke through; also, not suitable for heavyweight fabrics.

Grommets come in two pieces, and are much better for thicker fabric. They come in much larger sizes as well. There is a kit you can buy to set grommets by hand. It consists of a punch tool that you hammer the hole with, plus a setting die and base. You push the grommet front through your fabric, push the back onto that from the back side of the fabric, set it on the base, fit the die through the center hole, tap down with a mallet. It's really basic, but it works well. Last time I bought one was years ago and cost maybe $18.00 including a few dozen sets of grommets. I think they are size-specific, in other words they will only work with the size grommet they come with. They sell them at places that have corset supplies.

If it helps you any, I'm PsycoHatress(the store you linked) , and two part grommets are used on all my cuffs.

NEVER buy eyelets (the one part ones) I got a pack to use out of necessity one time and they are horrible little things that look like a 5 year old did it.

You can buy a setter for the cheep, the hand kind that you hammer in (thats what I use, those pricey ones sometimes cause it to go crooked. They are usually only about 2-3$ at walmart or any craft store.

With colored eyelets, they are painted with enamel and it will break and chip off if you hit it to hard or try to set it without a setter.

Also, if you are setting tiny ones like what I used, you don't want to use scissors to make the holes, the hole will end up to large on one side of it and not large enough on the other and you get little bits of fabric sticking out. Craft knives are better.

PsycoHatress
Victoria