I sew a lot and often make things that need to have drawstrings threaded through. I used to clip large safety pins to the string and thread it through that way, but my hands would get tight and hurt. Now I keep leftover chopsticks from take-out Chinese and tape the string to the bottom and use them like a giant needle to thread the string. Not only does it save my hands from aching, but it cuts the time in half too.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Does anyone have a tip on how to get the string/cord from boys bathing suits back in?
mom23boys from Flusing, NY
This has happened to me before. I would take the cord entirely out, then get a small safetypin that fits in the hole the cord came out of. Take the pin and hook some of the cord and close it.
Then feed the pin thru the hole and gather the material and then slide it more. This takes a bit of time due to the small pin but at the end just poke it back thru the hole or the hole next to it if there is one and undo the pin and your done.
I sew the cord or string at the center back so the chances of this happening were lessened. With stretchy materials I would put in a longer cord so there would be no way for the ends to just "suck in slightly".
Good luck!
As the Mom of 4 grown boys, I've found myself grappling with many drawstrings.
The method that worked best for me was to tie one end snugly around a knitting needle and insert the needle, point first into the front opening.
Gather as much material up onto the needle as you can and pull the gathers down over the head end where the drawstring is tied.
Once the needle is all the way in, keep gathering the material onto the needle, pulling from the other side until the point of the needle peeks out of the other end of the opening.
Then, simply pull it through, remove the needle from the drawstring and re-knot the end.
This can also be done with a coat hanger, cut down and folded in half, as flat as you can get it. Try to keep the edges smooth. A rasp or file may help. Tie the string around the curve of the hanger and pull the whole thing through using the same type of gathering method.
Save time, forget that paperclip thing. Just tape one end of the string to a pencil and slide the pencil through the waistband and POOF! Be blessed friend. :)
To rethread a draw cord for your sweats or shorts, insert the cord into a drinking straw and staple it so that it won't slip away when you pull it. This is a page about use a drinking straw for threading draw cords.
