Eyelet Fabric: A Detailed Look at Its Features and Uses

Eyelet fabrics are ideal for today’s fashion because they are lightweight, versatile, breathable, and flattering. 

The fabric is one of the most common types of home decor fabric. It is majorly employed in fabric production or as a decorative feature.

Eyelet fabric is also an open weave, lightweight fabric made of a fine, light, open-net pattern.

Eyelet fabric types are used in various ways but are often seen on dresses, blouses, and other garments covering the shoulders. 

Because eyelet yardage typically features a lacey or similarly ornamental selvage, it is often an excellent choice for producing lovely hems, sleeves, and necklines.

What is Eyelet Fabric?

Eyelet Fabrics

Eyelet is a fabric type with grommets or numerous little embroidered holes that enable its distinctive appearance, woven into it for decorative purposes.

Eyelet often refers to the cloth’s design rather than its fiber composition or weave.

These grommets give the fabric an eyelet appearance. Eyelet fabric is easily identifiable and can be knitted or woven in any fashion using any type of fiber such as cotton, silk, or polyester.

Eyelet fabric may be manufactured to look like any other fabric and comes in many hues and designs. Eyelet fabric can be knitted or woven using cotton, silk, or polyester. 

Furthermore, eyelet fabric may be designed to mimic the appearance of virtually any other fabric, and it is typically available in a broad variety of colors and designs.

In addition to this, eyelet fabric has also got scalloped edges. This means that the edges of the fabric will be finished with either embroidered stitching, sequins, beads, or some other type of accessory. 

Although classic hues like black and white are often seen in this fabric, pastel shades are also rather frequent.

Today, there are many different modern interpretations of eyelet fabric, just like many different types of fabrics; some examples include jerseys, silk, and even leather.

How is Eyelet Fabric Made?

Today, the buttonhole stitch outline on a Schiffli embroidery machine is frequently used as the most common method to create an eyelet fabric.

In the 1860s, these machines were created using a technology that is still being used today. Cotton, linen, or fabric blends like polyester-cotton blends, are some fabric types typically used as the base fabric.

Also, batiste and organdy are the most frequently used for embroidery. The shapes are cut or punched out, while the patterns are then finished with embroidered stitching.

A buttonhole stitch is used to create and finish each one of the holes. The holes are cut to exact dimensions and placed in specific configurations to produce a pattern or patterns, which are typically floral motifs or abstract geometric compositions.

Eyelet designs can vary greatly, but at their core, they all consist of carefully arranged holes of varying sizes and distances from one another to form a visual pattern.

The eyelet holes have been cut out and arranged in a pattern. To broaden the scope of design possibilities, eyelets and embroidered details can be mixed and matched.

Some eyelet fabrics are more hole than fabric, with motif designs that are either enormous and bold, made by the use of large holes, or delicate and lacy, created by the use of a multitude of little holes that are neatly spaced out.

A Brief History Of Eyelet Fabric

Eyelet is also known as “Broderie Anglaise”. Then, it was a technique that was developed in Europe during the 16th century, although it is thought by many historians to have originated in the Czech Republic.

Throughout the Victorian era, eyelet fabric became increasingly popular for use as a trim on gowns and undergarments.

Records from the past indicate that the eyelet was originally used in Scotland sometime during the 1700s.

At this time, Luigi Ruffini, an Italian trader who was also a skilled needleworker and a specialist in elegant Saxon needlework, arrived in Edinburgh in 1782. He was the individual that brought this style of white embroidery to the city.

This embroidery technique he introduced quickly gained popularity because it was more long-lasting than the traditional “bone lace.” “Ayrshire needlework” was given to the distinctive cotton fabric eventually created using this technique.

Types Of Eyelet Fabric

Scalloped eyelet fabric

Although eyelet fabric bears a distinct appearance similar to lace fabric, they’re quite different. Some varieties are made from different blends of fabric. 

Some common varieties of eyelet fabric that exist include; 

  • Scalloped eyelet

Scalloped eyelet fabric is good for various uses, such as a beautiful lace trim with a design of detailed embroidery on 40-thread cotton fabric. The cutting treatment is also sophisticated. This fabric is perfect for various clothes, bedding, and home fashion products.

Because it’s got a soft touch and is skin-friendly, it’s also perfect for baby clothing, children’s clothing, dress decoration, sewing, and most decorative items. 

  • Knit eyelet fabric

Knit eyelet fabric has an eyelet appearance with large mesh sizes, moderate drape, and four-way stretch. 

Knit eyelet fabric is usually produced with fabric types such as wool and cotton.

The fabric is such that it is cut out 50% across the grain and 20% vertical – and is semi-sheer due to the openings in the knit process used. It is perfect for tops and beach cover-ups. 

  • Stretch eyelet fabric

Stretch eyelet fabric is soft and comfortable, with a stretchy unique floral lace style. It’s usually produced with fabric blends cut as cotton-spandex. 

It is also used for a wide range of applications such as sewing wedding dresses and lingerie, ladies’ garments, underwear, nightwear, bedding, and home textile.

The fabric is soft, very comfortable, and skin-friendly, with 

elegant floral design available in multi beautiful colors. 

Other eyelet fabric types include floral eyelet, swiss eyelet, and linen eyelet. 

How Much Does Eyelet Fabric Cost By The Yard?

Although the yard is the usual unit of measurement for fabric, bolts of fabric can also be used as a measure of purchasing fabric. 

So many variables affect fabric costs. Eyelet fabric can be purchased for anywhere from $10 to $15. However, it’ll depend on its quality and the type of materials it was produced from.

A fabric’s price can change depending on its dimensions, hue, and the percentage of fiber it contains.

Cotton and synthetic fibers such as polyester, frequently utilized in the production of eyelet fabrics, may be obtained more readily and at a lower cost than the many other fabric forms.

Eyelet Fabric Usage And Applications

 eyelet fabric uses

The exquisite patterns and embroidered designs on eyelet fabric act as appealing factors that appeal to everyone.

Because the fabric is soft and lightweight, does not crease easily, and is see-through, it is an excellent choice for constructing various materials. 

  • Summer clothing

Eyelet fabric is used for various products and apparel and is most commonly worn during the summer.

The fabric is lightweight, and its holes allow air circulation around the wearer’s body. This increases the fabric’s breathability and is a great choice for summer dresses, skirts, blouses, and shirts, among other things.

  • Daily wear

Blouses and dresses can be crafted from eyelet fabric for women’s apparel. Men’s clothing is also produced from fabric.

Many manufacturers use the fabric to manufacture lace collars sewed onto the clothing. Headbands and outfits for youngsters are also popular clothing choices produced using this fabric. 

  • Home Decor

The cloth can also be used for applications inside the home. Eyelet fabric is versatile enough for things like drapes, tablecloths, napkins, and other adornments used in interior decorating. 

Eyelet Fabric Care And Maintenance Tips

Like other fabric types, eyelet fabric requires utmost care to ensure they stay for a very long time and retain their unique qualities. 

  • Before applying any care method to the fabric, you should check the fabric’s label to determine the best way to maintain it. Since the eyelet is lightweight, it’ll require different maintenance methods than others. 
  • I recommend you machine-wash eyelet fabric using warm water with a set cycle. If you wish, you can also wash fabric types with similar colors, provided you do not stuff your washer. 
  • When drying eyelet fabric, you may either put it in the dryer or hang it up to dry. If you use the dryer, ensure that it is set to tumble dry and on the normal cycle.
  • Eyelet fabric is lightweight, so it can easily be damaged by heat. When ironing, ensure you adjust the iron to cotton fabric settings. 
  • Also, place a cotton cloth on the fabric when ironing it to prevent it from getting damaged. You can also iron the fabric on the reverse side, especially if the fabric is produced with synthetic blends. 
  • When storing eyelet fabric, make sure you store them in a cool, airy area neatly folded. You can also hang them on plastic hangers. 

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