Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
The easiest way to thread a drawstring is with a safety pin fastened to the end of the cord: insert it into the casing opening and work it forward, bunching the fabric over it and smoothing it out behind. If the cord is thicker, use a special elastic threader (bodkin) or a plastic straw. To stop it coming out again, finish the ends with cord ends, a knot or a cord stopper, and stitch the cord at the centre.
How to thread a drawstring – what you need
- the cord you are threading – new or pulled out of the casing;
- a safety pin of a suitable size or an elastic threader (bodkin);
- tape or a lighter for synthetic cord if the end is frayed;
- optionally – cord ends or a cord stopper for finishing.
Before you start, check the casing openings – the eyelets or buttonholes. If the cord has a cord end, it must pass through the opening. If it does not, the cord end will have to be removed and a new one fitted afterwards.
Method 1: with a safety pin
- Fasten the safety pin through the end of the cord, as close to the edge as possible. With a flat cord, pass it through the middle.
- Insert the closed pin into one opening of the casing.
- Feel the pin through the fabric and move it forward with your fingers, bunching the fabric over it in folds.
- Hold the pin with one hand and smooth out the gathered fabric behind it with the other.
- Repeat until the pin comes out of the other opening.
- Even up the ends of the cord on both sides.
This method works for hoods, jogger, shorts and pyjama waistbands, and drawstring bags. It is important that the pin is big enough not to slip off the cord and small enough to pass through the opening.
Method 2: with a threader (bodkin)
Special threaders for elastic and cord are long, with a large eye or a clip. The cord is passed through the eye or caught in the clip, and the threader is moved through the casing in the same way. They are more convenient than a safety pin for long casings and in ateliers where cords are threaded often.
Method 3: with a straw
Suitable for a wide casing and a cord that has come out completely:
- Insert the cord into a plastic straw of a suitable diameter.
- Fix the end of the cord to the end of the straw with tape or a staple.
- Push the straw through the casing; if the casing is longer, join two straws.
- Remove the straw once the cord comes out on the other side.
How to thread a drawstring in joggers or shorts
In a jogger waistband, the casing often contains elastic as well. Make sure the pin passes over or under the elastic, not through it, otherwise the cord will twist it. If the joggers have openings at the front, thread the cord from one opening, go around the whole waist and come out of the other. Pull the cord so the ends are equal with the waist relaxed.
How to stop the drawstring pulling out of the casing
- Stitching at the centre – with a few stitches or a machine bar tack, the cord is fixed at the centre back of the hood or waistband. This way it cannot be pulled out completely on one side. This is also a safety requirement for some children’s garments.
- Cord ends – metal or plastic cord ends, wider than the opening, stop the cord from coming out and protect the end from fraying.
- Cord stopper – a cord stopper fixes the cord in the desired position and acts as a limiter.
- Knot – the simplest solution, but a knot can come undone and does not look finished.
How to finish the ends after threading
A frayed end is the most common reason a cord will not go through when re-threading. Synthetic cords are heat-sealed – the end is lightly singed until the fibres fuse. Cotton cords are finished with a cord end, a few wraps of thread or a knot. In production, cord ends are applied by machine and give a uniform, professional finish.
Tips for manufacturers
- Provide an eyelet or buttonhole opening through which the cord passes together with its cord end, so repair and replacement are possible.
- Stitch the cord at the centre of the hood – this reduces complaints about cords pulling out.
- Choose a cord that shrinks in the wash as much as the main fabric.
- Check the cord length for every size.
- For childrenswear, check the requirements of EN 14682 for cords in the hood and waist area.
Replacing the cord
If the old cord is worn, faded or frayed, the easiest thing is to replace it. Attach the new cord to the end of the old one with a joining stitch or a safety pin and pull the old one out of the other opening – the new one will follow the same path without you having to find the casing. Choose a cord of the same or slightly smaller thickness so it passes easily through the openings, and in a colour that matches the product.
Common problems
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| The pin comes undone inside the casing | a smaller pin, fastened through the middle of the cord |
| The cord twists around the elastic | thread it over the elastic and check with your fingers |
| The cord end will not pass through the eyelet | remove it and fit a new one after threading |
| The cord keeps coming out | stitch it at the centre, add cord ends or a stopper |
Cords and accessories from Polkom
Polkom is a manufacturer of haberdashery and accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags, headquartered in Sofia with over 30 years of experience. We offer cords for apparel – flat and round, in various thicknesses and colours – together with cord ends, cord stoppers and eyelets. We deliver to manufacturers across the EU and send samples quickly. Send an inquiry for a quote.
