Categories: sewing

How to Fix your Drawstring So You Never Lose It Again

I don’t know about you, but it drives me crazy when I pull my hoodies or sweats out of the laundry and the drawstrings are crazy lopsided–or worse, when they’re pulled out! And babies LOVE to yank on those dangling strings too. If they’re pulled all the way out, sometimes I don’t even want to put them back in. But what if I told you that in less than 5 minutes you can permanently fix that problem FOREVER. Seriously, I’m going to show you how to fix a drawstring so you never lose it again…ever.

It’s so simple you’ll probably wonder why you never thought of it, but you’ll be thanking me every time you do laundry.

So here’s how to fix your drawstring:

Pull out that hoodie or pair of drawstring pants, and make sure your drawstrings are even on both sides.
Find the center of the hood (or the back of the waistband on pants). On hoodies, there’s usually already a seam in the hood lining that helps you get everything perfect.
Sew across the casing with a sewing machine or tack the string in place by hand.

Now even if one end of the string gets pulled, the drawstring won’t come uncentered. See? I pulled one side all the way, and the other side stays put and the string doesn’t move.

You still have full function (cinch those pants up if you want), and no one will ever know the difference. Except you because you do the laundry and hold the babies.

And just like that you can become someone else’s superhero when you show them how to fix a drawstring. And if you liked this sewing tip, be sure to check out these other sanity-saving ideas!

The Secret to Hemming Curved Edges || The Secret to Gorgeous Gathers

and this amazing new series–Recreating Kate!

Recreating Kate: The Issa Engagement Dress || Recreating Kate: Introduction

Lisa

Lisa Mabey blogs at Mabey She Made It about DIY, Crafts, Home Decor, and Sewing.

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View Comments

Debra @ MsMoozys Open House says:

January 12, 2015 at 8:05 AM

Wow that is just awesome, I will have to do this for sure. What a great idea, thanks for sharing. Have a great week.
- Lisa says:
  
  January 13, 2015 at 10:22 AM
  
  It's saved my sanity more than once! :)
Anne says:

January 15, 2015 at 6:48 AM

Thanks for sharing this tip! I've got a Craft Gossip post that links to your tutorial here:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-fix-a-drawstring-so-it-doesnt-get-lost/2015/01/15/
--Anne
- Lisa says:
  
  January 16, 2015 at 2:58 PM
  
  Thank you so much, Anne! You're the best!
Beth says:

January 15, 2015 at 9:39 AM

You're brilliant and I feel so dumb. Such a simple fix!!!!
- Lisa says:
  
  January 16, 2015 at 2:59 PM
  
  No--please don't feel dumb! Sometimes it's the simple fixes that make the biggest impact. :)
Beverley M says:

January 17, 2015 at 10:07 AM

So simple! Great idea
- Lisa says:
  
  January 18, 2015 at 3:00 PM
  
  Thank you Beverley!
Atta Girl Amy says:

January 20, 2015 at 9:24 AM

Brilliant and easy fix to an annoying problem that we've all encountered. Now, do you have a simple trick to getting all those drawstrings back in your sweats?
- Lisa says:
  
  January 22, 2015 at 11:35 AM
  
  I wish! The safety pin trick is my go-to, although I think I might try using a loop turner...
Steph @ Crafting in the Rain says:

January 20, 2015 at 10:18 PM

Game changer :) Or at least laundry!!
- Lisa says:
  
  January 22, 2015 at 11:36 AM
  
  Seriously. I inwardly laugh when Maya pulls on them now.
Jillene@inkhappi says:

January 25, 2015 at 5:15 AM

I wish I had this tip about 8 years ago when my daughter had at least a dozen hoodies! Great tip!
- Lisa says:
  
  January 25, 2015 at 7:26 AM
  
  I guess now you can pass it onto her for all her current hoodies. :)
mrs Major Hoff (Sara) says:

January 27, 2015 at 9:59 PM

Great idea!
- Lisa says:
  
  January 31, 2015 at 8:44 AM
  
  Thanks, Sara!
bel @ Mums Take Five says:

February 21, 2015 at 2:18 AM

I'm so paranoid about losing the drawstring on anything! Thanks for contributing this post to The Sunday Brunch Magazine!
All the best,
Bel
Alyssa Nguyen says:

April 1, 2016 at 11:20 PM

Som hooded sweatshirts are made this way to begin with. I'm not entirely sure why they aren't *all* made this way.
- Lisa says:
  
  April 7, 2016 at 2:55 PM
  
  I wish they all were!