Setting Eyelets

[Dawn]

Ok, I'm almost finished with my first felted purse. My problem now is trying to set the eyelets for the straps. I've got the eyelets and the handy dandy eylet setting tool and a hammer, but I can't seem to make it work. I tried to follow the directions on the package, but I pounded on it like a mad person and accomplished little more than a nasty bruise on the tip of my thumb. Can someone pleeeeeeease help me??

[faedragon]

Try using a mallet to pound with instead of your thumb.

[JoBug]

Sorry I can't help Dawn, thats what I use my husband for, I make him do them, and to be honest, I never watched him.....

[Dawn]

LOL....I was using a hammer, I just hit my thumb instead of the eyelet setter thingy. I bought it at walmart today, there are two pieces and the instructions on the back of the package were vague at best, so I don't really know what goes where to make them set properly.

[Samio]

I had the same problem when I made the Well travelled bag I think. When I first tried I achieved nothing but a sore thumb as well. What I ended up doing was using my scissors and making a slight hole for the eyelet to rest in, and then smashed it with the hammer. I think the main problem is that the eyelets do not have a sharp enough edge to go through the felt. Once I made the hole, everything worked well.

 

Good luck

[angieInCA]

the best was to set an eyelet in a felted bag is to take a large knitting needle or screwdriver (as bg as the eyelet) and push through the fabric to make a hole. Work it till is is as large as the eyelet then work the eyelet witht eh shaft into the hole.

I've never had a problem setting one. Just make sure you are on a very hard surface that has no give when you pound with the hammer. I use the concrete floor (covered with a towel) in my garage