How to Put a Drawstring Back in a Hoodie (2-Minute Fix)
To put a drawstring back in a hoodie, clip a safety pin to one end of the string, push the pin into one hole of the hood channel, and inch it through by scrunching the fabric over the pin and smoothing it out behind, until it pops out the other hole. Even the string up so both sides match, and knot the ends so it never happens again. Two minutes, no sewing.
A hoodie with a missing string is exactly the kind of thing that quietly drops out of your rotation forever; WORN is being built to show you which clothes you've stopped wearing so fixes like this actually happen: Start my outfit diary
What you need (safety pin, straw or bobby pin)
You almost definitely have one of these within reach right now:
- Safety pin (the best tool, hands down)
- Drinking straw (plastic or a sturdy reusable one)
- Bobby pin / hair grip (UK) / hair clip
- Chopstick, pen or skewer (for the no-tools-at-all move)
- Tape (optional but helpful for the straw method)
Also useful: a tiny bit of patience. If you rush, the string end slips off the pin halfway and you're back to zero.
The safety pin method
This is the classic way to rethread a hoodie drawstring, and it's the one that works on basically every hoodie, joggers and sweatpants waistband too.
Step by step
- Close the safety pin through one end of the string. Poke it right through the string, about 1 cm from the tip, and snap it shut. Don't just hook it on; it'll slip.
- Push the pin into one eyelet (the hole at the front of the hood).
- Scrunch and slide. Pinch the pin through the fabric, push it forward a couple of centimeters, then bunch the fabric up behind it. Hold the pin still and smooth the fabric back. Repeat.
- Go around the curve. At the top of the hood there's a seam where the channel can snag. Wiggle the pin past it gently; don't force it.
- Pop it out the other eyelet. Pull the pin through, unclip it, and pull the string until both sides are even.
- Knot both ends (see the last section) so it can't escape again.
If the pin gets stuck
- Stuck at a seam? Back it up 2 cm and approach at a slightly different angle.
- Pin opened inside the channel? Feel for it through the fabric, close it with your fingers, and carry on.
- Channel has a stitched-down section in the middle? Some hoods do. Push the pin to that point, bring it out through the eyelet on that side, and feed it into the next section.
The straw method
The straw hack is a viral TikTok favorite for good reason. It's faster than a safety pin on hoods with a wide channel.
- Thread the string into the straw so the end pokes out slightly, or fold the tip and tape it in place. A straw with a bendy end works best when you cut the bend off.
- Knot or tape the string at the far end of the straw so it can't slide back out.
- Push the straw through the channel from one eyelet toward the other, scrunching fabric along it as you go.
- When it pokes out the other side, pull the straw off and even up the string.
Heads up: straws are stiff, so they're harder to steer around the curve at the top of a tight hood. If it jams, switch to a safety pin.
No tools? Bobby pin and chopstick tricks
Bobby pin
A bobby pin works like a mini threader. Slide the string end into the pin's slot (or tape it on), then use the smooth rounded end to lead it through the channel. The ridged side grips the string surprisingly well.
Chopstick, pen or skewer
This is how to put string back in a hoodie without a safety pin or anything small:
- Tape the string end to the tip of a chopstick or pen.
- Push the stick into the eyelet and scrunch the fabric onto it.
- When you can't go further, pull the fabric along the stick and keep feeding.
It's clumsy on longer hoods but fine on sweatpants waistbands.
Quick comparison
| Method | Speed | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety pin | Medium | Every hood and waistband | Pin popping open inside |
| Straw | Fast | Wide, straight channels | Jamming on curves |
| Bobby pin | Medium | Thin strings | String slipping out |
| Chopstick / pen | Slow | Waistbands, short channels | Too long for tight curves |
Replacing a lost drawstring
Lost the string completely? Don't bin the hoodie. Your options:
- Buy a hoodie string replacement. Craft shops and online stores sell drawstrings by the meter, often with metal or plastic tips (aglets) already fitted.
- Steal from something else. An old pair of joggers, a laundry bag, even a spare shoelace. Long flat shoelaces work great.
- Use a paracord or ribbon in a contrast color for a small custom touch.
- Seal the ends. Wrap them tightly with clear tape or a small piece of heat-shrink tube so they don't fray.
For a standard adult hood you'll usually want a string around 130 to 150 cm long; measure your old one or the channel plus the length you like hanging down.
Want to take the drawstring out on purpose?
To remove the drawstring from a hoodie for a cleaner look (or if a school or sports rule asks for it), just pull one end steadily while holding the eyelet flat. Keep the string somewhere safe, like tied around a hanger, in case you want it back later.
Here's the truth: most hoodies with a missing string don't get fixed because you forget about them. They go to the back of the drawer, you wear your other two hoodies, and six months later it's in a donation bag.
WORN makes forgotten clothes visible. You'd take one photo a day of what you actually wore, one tap, no tagging. After a month it would show you the twelve things you never touch, which is usually where the broken-zip, no-string, slightly-shrunk pieces are hiding. Start my outfit diary
Stop it coming out again
Prevention takes 30 seconds:
- Tie a chunky knot at each end. A figure-eight or double overhand knot is bigger than the eyelet, so it can't slip in.
- Stitch the middle. Put two tiny stitches through the string and the channel at the center back of the hood. It stays centered forever.
- Close the hood before washing and pull the strings to even length.
- Wash hoodies inside out in a laundry bag if your machine loves eating strings.
- Don't yank one side to tighten the hood. Pull both evenly.
And while you're giving this hoodie some love, check the rest of it: how to unshrink a hoodie if it's gone a bit tight, and how to fix a zipper that came off if it's a zip-up.
Get your fixed hoodie back in rotation
Knowing how to put a drawstring back in a hoodie is a tiny skill that saves whole pieces from the donation pile. Join the WORN waitlist in a minute; you'll get one email when the app opens, and after a month you'd see which fixed-up favorites you're actually wearing again.
FAQ
How do you get the string back in your hoodie without a safety pin?
Use a straw, bobby pin, or tape the string to a chopstick or pen. Push it through the hood channel, scrunching the fabric over it as you go. A straw is the fastest if the channel is wide.
How do you rethread a hoodie drawstring that's stuck halfway?
Hold the string end through the fabric so it doesn't slide back, then attach a safety pin to it through the fabric if you can. If it's truly stuck at a seam, back it up a little and try a new angle. Worst case, pull it out and start from the other eyelet.
How do I stop my hoodie strings from coming out?
Tie a big knot at each end so it can't slip through the eyelets. For extra security, add two small stitches at the center back of the hood to anchor the string.
What can I use to replace a hoodie drawstring?
A shoelace, paracord, ribbon, or a drawstring from an old pair of joggers all work. Seal the ends with tape so they don't fray, then thread it with a safety pin.
Does this work for sweatpants too?
Yes. The safety pin method works exactly the same on sweatpants, joggers and pajama waistbands. The channel is usually straighter, so it's often even easier than a hood.