Hi - a Google search of "eyelet tape" brings up lots of options. You are right - I think grommets would be too large.

Donna

You need eyelet tape - it's sold for corsets, so you know it's going to be sturdy.

Sew it on, then cut holes where you want the eyelets.

Thank you, I appreciate the suggestion! Well guess what, by now he was transferred back to the nursing home he was in prior to getting transferred home & then yet again to hospital (with its free-for-all fridge). It's been an exhausting "sorry-go-round" these past months and years for that matter.