If your drawstring just disappeared into the waistband of your favorite sweatpants, do not panic. You do not need to throw them away or pay a tailor. You can fix it in about two minutes using a few things you already have at home. The fastest way to get it done is by using a large safety pin.
The Safety Pin Method (Fastest Fix)
This is the most reliable way to restring any pair of sweatpants, hoodies, or gym shorts. You need a large safety pin. A size 3 or 4 pin works best because it provides enough grip through thick fabric without popping open. If you want to see the motion in action, this YouTube video demonstrates the technique perfectly.
- Pull the entire string out of the pants if both ends are lost. It is easier to start completely fresh.
- Securely attach the closed safety pin to one end of the string. Fasten it right through the middle of the fabric cord so it will not rip out halfway through.
- Push the closed safety pin into the entry hole of the waistband.
- Use your fingers on the outside of the waistband to feel the hard metal pin. Push the fabric forward over the pin.
- Hold the pin in place through the fabric and pull the bunched-up material backward. This inches the pin forward.
- Repeat this inchworm motion until the pin pops out the other side.
- Remove the pin and tie a thick double knot at both ends of the string to prevent this from ever happening again.
The Plastic Straw Trick (Alternative)
If you cannot find a large safety pin, a sturdy plastic drinking straw is a great alternative. It works surprisingly well because the rigid plastic slides right through the fabric channel without getting snagged on inner seams.
- Feed one end of your drawstring through the straw.
- Tie a knot at the end of the string so it cannot pull back out of the straw.
- Push the straw into the waistband opening and simply guide it all the way around until it comes out the other side.
- Untie the knot, remove the straw, and retie the ends.
The Pencil Method
No safety pin and no straw? Grab a pencil and some tape.
- Securely tape about an inch of the drawstring to the unsharpened end of a pencil. Do not use masking tape because it loses grip on fabric. Heavy packing tape or duct tape works best.
- Push the pencil into the channel and use the exact same inchworm method to work the fabric over the pencil until it comes out the other side.
What if One End is Stuck Inside?
If one end of the string is dangling just a few inches inside the channel, you might not have to restring the whole thing. Grab a crochet hook or a straightened wire coat hanger with a tiny hook bent at the end. Slide it carefully into the hole, snag the string, and pull it out.
If you need to replace a broken string entirely, grab an extra-long shoelace from a pair of high-top sneakers or boots. Depending on your waist size, a standard boot lace is usually the perfect length for waistbands and comes with solid plastic tips that make threading much easier.
