Eyelets are basically holes made in any material, which are finished with either hand stitches or with metal pieces specially made for this. These metal eyelets are also called grommets. The hand stitched eyelets are embroidered holes which are covered with even and neat eyelet embroidery stitches around the hole.

There are many uses for the eyelets: Hand embroidered Eyelets are used extensively in Venetian embroidery and Swiss embroidery, and they are used to fasten hooks.

Eyelets aren't used in the same way as button holes, but they are used in other ways:

• Lacing up corsets
• Cord exit points for drawstring waistbands
• Drawing the tops of canvas rucksacks closed
• Decoration on leather garments and accessories
• Used as a way to control gathering on an adjustable garment

Now, to clear up any confusion, eyelets and grommets are the same thing, they simply differ in size.

1. Eyelets are the smaller ones, that you would see in your shoes, and the backs of corsets.
2. Grommets are the larger ones, and used more in bags, outerwear and home furnishings.

The first part, which goes through the fabric hole is the main section, and has a shank, which gets 'crushed'.

The second part is the washer, and it is relatively flat. This is the section that the shank of the first part wraps over, enclosing the raw edge of the fabric.

A stud is a decorative fastener that fits onto a garment for decorative purposes.

A stud may be fashioned from alloys, precious metals, and gemstones—materials uncommon to buttons sewn on shirts. The stud may have an inlay, such as of pearl or onyx.