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Tips to get the drawstring out?

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 11:08 am
by miataman
Do any of you guys have the problem where if you stretch them too far part of the drawstring gets stuck inside? Any tips on how to get them back out? I'm far from a seamstress. I now tie a larger double knot around the end of them, that seems to work to prevent it....but I have a bunch of ones I like to wear where this has happened, and I've lost a few pounds so the drawstring is kind of necessary for me.

Re: Tips to get the drawstring out?

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 3:34 pm
by Flatfront
Just search Amazon for a Drawstring Threader Tool, they have many types. You pull the string out, put one end in the loop, push the tool through and the drawstring will follow. A local sewing hobby shop may have this too. Some of the metal tools have a hook on the end to catch the end of the string, this is needed when the string is sewn in.

Re: Tips to get the drawstring out?

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 3:54 pm
by MISpeedo
Two ways that work for me. Both require a stiff wire like a metal coat hanger. Make a small closed hook (eye) in one end so you don't cut the suit when you fish out the drawstring and you can use it to possibly grab the drawstring .

1. Entering the missing drawstring eye opening, push the wire into the suit slowly while bending the wire to allow it to enter into the suit and make the turn. If you use your fingers you can move the wire one direction and the suit in the other so they pass each other. With luck you will feel and be able to grab the end of the drawstring (maybe in the small eye) and working with your fingers pinching the drawstring onto the wire slowly pull the wire with the drawstring along the band until it comes out through the drawstring hole. Using your fingers to work them out together helps.

2. Work the coat hanger wire into the suit, bending it to a curve allowing it to come out the other drawstring hole. Do this slow and work the material over the wire with your fingers to allow it to come out of the suit. More like pushing the material over the wire instead of pushing the wire through the material. Connect the drawstring to the wire eye and work it back through the suit doing the reverse working with the fabric, the drawstring and wire. Can either push or pull the drawstring through the suit band, depends on the string and suit.

Good luck. IM me if you have questions.

Re: Tips to get the drawstring out?

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2024 8:53 am
by clem
Oohh yeah, happened a lot. I've also swapped out various drawcords into various speedos that I liked. If the cord has a plastic sleeve on the tip, like a new shoelace, usually it's not too hard to manipulate the end along--push the tip foward, grab the tip through the fabric and pull the fabric backwards. Slow and steady wins the race. If the cord doesn't have a solid tip to grab through the material, I've had some success poking a simple thread needle into the cord "corridor" and working the end of the cord through the speedo. Not for the impatient.

As I previously mentioned, sometimes when I've switched cords on a speedo, I've tried to tape the ends together and gently pull the new one through. That's successful maybe 20% of the time. Then wherever it pulled apart, I'm stuck using the above techniques trying to get the damn thing to the finish line. Boy I need a life...

Re: Tips to get the drawstring out?

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2024 1:15 pm
by beachg0y
A decent set of tweezers can help.

Re: Tips to get the drawstring out?

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2024 5:43 pm
by phltanner
miataman wrote:
Tue Jun 25, 2024 11:08 am
Do any of you guys have the problem where if you stretch them too far part of the drawstring gets stuck inside? Any tips on how to get them back out? I'm far from a seamstress. I now tie a larger double knot around the end of them, that seems to work to prevent it....but I have a bunch of ones I like to wear where this has happened, and I've lost a few pounds so the drawstring is kind of necessary for me.
Hell! Just let the suits droop!!

Re: Tips to get the drawstring out?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2024 4:56 pm
by packedspeedo
You can try to pull the whole drawstring out. Soak it in water. Lay it out on a cookie sheet in a circle. Put the cookie sheet into the freezer. Once it is frozen you can thread it through your speedo. If you can get it off of the cookie sheet. :)

Re: Tips to get the drawstring out?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2024 9:15 pm
by Fred8110
phltanner wrote:
Thu Jun 27, 2024 5:43 pm
miataman wrote:
Tue Jun 25, 2024 11:08 am
Do any of you guys have the problem where if you stretch them too far part of the drawstring gets stuck inside? Any tips on how to get them back out? I'm far from a seamstress. I now tie a larger double knot around the end of them, that seems to work to prevent it....but I have a bunch of ones I like to wear where this has happened, and I've lost a few pounds so the drawstring is kind of necessary for me.
Hell! Just let the suits droop!!
Best advice !!! Haha!

Re: Tips to get the drawstring out?

Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2024 6:07 am
by BozeHawk