It happens in the dryer. You pull out your favorite heavy-weight fleece, and there it is—one end of the drawstring has vanished into the abyss of the hood channel. Or worse, the whole thing slipped out, leaving you with a lumpy, stringless neck and a cord that looks like a sad noodle.
Honestly, most people just leave it. They walk around with one side dangling four inches longer than the other. Don't be that person. How to restring a hoodie is one of those basic "adulting" skills that feels like a massive chore until you realize it takes about three minutes if you aren't just shoving the string in with your bare fingers like a caveman.
The Safety Pin Method: The Old Reliable
This is the gold standard. If you have a junk drawer, you probably have a safety pin.
Find a beefy one. The tiny little gold pins used for delicate ribbons won't work here because they'll bend under the pressure of the fabric. You want a sturdy, 1-inch to 1.5-inch steel pin. Attach it firmly to one end of the drawstring. Close it tight. If the pin pops open inside the hood, you’re going to have a very bad afternoon.
Shove the pinned end into the eyelet. Now, it's all about the "inchworm" move. Use one hand to feel the pin through the fabric. Hold the pin, bunch up the fabric behind it, then hold the front of the pin and pull the fabric straight. Repeat. Scrunch, pull, scrunch, pull. It’s rhythmic. It’s strangely meditative. Once the pin peeks out the other side, grab it with your needle-nose pliers or just your fingernails and yank it through.
Why the straw trick is actually better for thin cords
If you're dealing with a thin, round cord rather than a flat skate lace, safety pins can be finicky. They flip around. They get caught on the inner mesh.
Instead, grab a plastic drinking straw. Thread the string through the straw and staple it or tie a small knot to keep it from slipping back out. Because the straw is rigid, you can navigate the "corners" of the hood much faster. It doesn't get lost in the folds of the fabric. You're basically turning your limp drawstring into a flexible rod. It’s a game-changer for those high-performance gym hoodies with the tiny, narrow channels.
The Professional Tool: The Bodkin
If you find yourself doing this often—maybe you're a vintage reseller or you just have a household of teenagers who destroy clothes—buy a bodkin.
A bodkin is a specialized sewing tool that looks like a long, blunt needle with a massive eye or a tweezer-like grip. Professional tailors use them because they don't snag the internal fibers of the sweatshirt. You can pick one up at any craft store for about five dollars. It's the "pro" way to handle how to restring a hoodie because it offers the most leverage. You aren't fighting the friction of the fabric as much.
Common Mistakes That Ruin the Job
- Ignoring the "Exit" Eyelet: Sometimes the internal channel of a hoodie isn't one continuous tube. On cheaper fast-fashion brands, the stitching might be messy. If you hit a "wall," don't force it. You might rip the inner lining. Back out an inch, wiggle the pin, and try to find the gap.
- Forgetting the Knot: Once you get the string through, for the love of everything, tie a knot at both ends. Make them bigger than the eyelet holes. This prevents the "dryer escape" from happening again next Tuesday.
- Using a Wire Hanger: People suggest this online constantly. Don't do it. Unless you are incredibly careful, the sharp end of the wire will snag the knit of your hoodie and create a run. It’s like a snag in pantyhose; once it starts, the hood is ruined. If you must use a hanger, fold the tip over with pliers and wrap it in scotch tape to make it smooth.
What if the string is frayed?
If the plastic "aglet" (that's the technical term for the plastic tip, thanks Phineas and Ferb) is gone, the string will just keep unraveling.
Trim the frayed ends. Take a lighter and carefully melt the tip of the polyester cord to seal it. If it’s cotton, melting won't work—it’ll just burn. In that case, wrap the end tightly in a bit of clear Scotch tape. This mimics the aglet and gives you a solid point to attach your safety pin or bodkin.
Creative Substitutions
Sometimes the original string is just gone. Lost to the laundromat gods. You can replace it with:
- Paracord 550 (super durable, looks rugged).
- Flat cotton twill tape (gives it a high-end, designer look).
- A thick shoelace (the easiest fix).
Final Checklist for a Perfect Finish
When you finally pull that string through, make sure the lengths are even before you tie your permanent end-knots. Put the hoodie on. Pull the strings until the hood sits exactly how you like it. Only then should you commit to the knots.
If you want to be extra fancy, you can buy metal aglet replacements that crimp onto the ends. They give a $20 sweatshirt a much more "premium" feel.
Next Steps
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Go check your laundry basket right now. Find that one hoodie you stopped wearing because the string disappeared. Grab a safety pin from your sewing kit or a straw from the kitchen. Feed the cord through using the inchworm technique, and once it's out, tie those chunky knots at the ends so you never have to do this again. If the cord is actually damaged, measure the total length and order a 45-inch or 54-inch replacement cord online—standard sizes usually fit most adult medium to large hoodies.