How to Sew a Drawstring

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When sewing some garments, a drawstring is needed. So here’s how to sew a drawstring.

Some garments like hoodies and joggers can have a drawstring. You don’t have to add the drawstring. I’ve sewn many a jogger without a drawstring as I don’t personally like the look of them at my waist (I think it draws undue attention there). However, when I sew a hoodie, I think it looks better with a drawstring.

There are many store-bought options for drawstrings. In the fabric store, you can purchase cords, twill tape, braided cord and many other items that would work. Even shoelaces would work.

One option is to sew your own drawstring. It’s easy to do and there some advantages.

Sometimes going to the fabric store to pick up something is not always easy given your busy life. You could order online but then you need to wait for delivery. Quite often when I’m sewing I want to finish my project NOW and don’t want to wait. Sewing your own gives you that instant gratification.

Also, sewing your own drawstring allows you to match it perfectly. You can use the same fabric so that it colour matches perfectly. It could also be coordinating fabric that really pulls the whole garment together. It also keeps the texture consistent.

Here I’ve sewn a hoodie using 3 different coordinating fabrics and patterns. My drawstring is one of the fabrics and so it ties in with the garment.

How to Sew a Drawstring

The length of your drawstring is determined by the application and the garment. In general, it’s probably better to have a bit too much, than to be short.

Here’s step by step on how to sew a drawstring:

• cut a length of fabric that is 1.5 inches wide. If you want a thicker drawstring, consider cutting it 2 inches wide. I personally wouldn’t go thinner than 1 or 1.25 inches as it gets really fiddly to turn inside out. Perhaps if you want a really thin drawstring you may wish to do the store-bought route.
• as mentioned, the length is dependent upon your garment. You probably want at around 45-60 inches wide – which happens to be the width of most fabrics, making it easy to cut. This is one of those things in which it is probably better to err on the side of being too big.
• If you don’t have the width, you can sew pieces of fabric together. I would try and hide the seams as close to the middle of the drawstring as possible. This way, it is likely to be inside the hood or waistband and no one will ever know that it’s 2 or 3 pieces sewn together.
• you can cut the fabric either with the grain or against the grain. This makes it easy to squeeze in a drawstring as you can use the edges. If your fabric is patterned, like with stripes, you may wish to consider the direction of how you want to cut it.
• fold your fabric in half, right sides together. I find it easier to clip as it is so long. It makes it more manageable.

• sew using a 1/4 or 3/8 inch seam allowance, using a sewing machine or serger. I prefer to use my serger as it cuts it so nice and straight as it serges.
• turn your long tube right side out. There are a few tools that can be purchased for the purpose of turning, but there are also a few home items that work. I personally use a safety pin. I pin it to one end and then feed through the inside. This is the method that my mom taught me.
  You could also turn sections at a time using a chopstick or a knitting needle. I find that this method works better for turning shorter lengths. I find that it can bunch up. But if this is all you have, I bet you can make it work.

How to Finish the Ends

Now that you have it turned out. Trim it to the length that you need and finish the ends.

There are a couple of ways to finish your ends.

• fold over the end twice and either machine sew or hand sew
• cover with an aglet. Read my post All About Aglets here.

Once on your garment, you may wish to consider knotting the drawstrings or adding toggles that it doesn’t slip inside – especially when in the wash.

That said, it is possible to fish it out if it does slip inside. I personally find that when it has an aglet on the end, it’s easier for me to coax out as I have something to grip.

If using a drawstring in your garment, you’ll like want to use grommets as well. Read my post on All About Grommets here.

Want to remember how to sew a drawstring? Be sure to save this to your favourite Pinterest board.