how to fix a drawstring

Introduction

A dangling drawstring can mean the difference between enjoying the view and freezing your socks off in a high-altitude wind.

Fortunately, a loose drawstring is easy to fix. Keep yourself snug with this simple repair.

If you don't have a cotter pin, a safety pin works as well.

Take the loose end of the drawstring, and cut any frayed material. Take the cotter pin and thread the drawstring through the spilt end of the cotter pin. Slide the drawstring to the eye of the cotter pin.

Take the loose end of the drawstring, and cut any frayed material.
Take the cotter pin and thread the drawstring through the spilt end of the cotter pin.
Slide the drawstring to the eye of the cotter pin.

Feed the cotter pin through the drawstring casing. The casing will vary on each garment. In this case the drawstring casing is visible on the exterior of the garment, but it may be on the inside of your garment.

Feed the cotter pin through the drawstring casing.
The casing will vary on each garment. In this case the drawstring casing is visible on the exterior of the garment, but it may be on the inside of your garment.

Scrunch the drawstring casing over the cotter pin and pull the cotter pin through the casing. Continue scrunching and sliding the cotter pin through the casing.

Scrunch the drawstring casing over the cotter pin and pull the cotter pin through the casing.
Continue scrunching and sliding the cotter pin through the casing.
This takes a bit of finesse; just stick with it.

Pull the cotter pin out through the end of the drawstring casing. Pull the drawstring through, until the loose end of the drawstring comes out.

Pull the cotter pin out through the end of the drawstring casing.
Pull the drawstring through, until the loose end of the drawstring comes out.

Insert the cotter pin—still holding the drawstring—into the drawstring hold. In this case, the drawstring hold is a small hole in the garment. The drawstring hold is just the place where the drawstring will be sewn to the garment. This may vary from garment to garment. Pinch the drawstring inside of the drawstring hold.

Insert the cotter pin—still holding the drawstring—into the drawstring hold.
In this case, the drawstring hold is a small hole in the garment. The drawstring hold is just the place where the drawstring will be sewn to the garment. This may vary from garment to garment.
Pinch the drawstring inside of the drawstring hold.
While holding the drawstring, pull the cotter pin out, sliding the drawstring out through the spilt in the pin.

While holding the drawstring in the hold, mark where the drawstring will be sewn with tailor's chalk. If you aren't sure where to sew the drawstring, feel for the other end of the drawstring. In most garments, the drawcord is symmetrical.

While holding the drawstring in the hold, mark where the drawstring will be sewn with tailor's chalk.
If you aren't sure where to sew the drawstring, feel for the other end of the drawstring. In most garments, the drawcord is symmetrical.
Sew several passes along the chalk line, being sure to catch the drawstring.

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