string through sports shorts issue

[elf]

Hello all, I use this board for everything and can usually stretch it to be budget but this...??Except I need to fix this and can't afford new pair.

My kids never really did sports, until now. I have addidas shorts with string that got lost in the waist.

Game tomorrow and I'm going to work soon til late tonight. What is the quickest way to get through. I tried pushing pulling nothings moving.

They are damp from wash. Should I dry first? Any tricks?

 

[JKMJ441724]

May be a pain in the butt....

Are both ends of the string lost in the waist? If it's only one end....

you might want to completely pull the string out, then attach a LARGE safety pin in one end of the string and push and pull that way. Makes for something larger and firmer to hold on to as you tug it back through the shorts.

 

[HM]

That is exactly how I'd do it.

 

[v.t.]

Ditto

 

[ceecee]

If it's only one end....

you might want to completely pull the string out, then attach a LARGE safety pin in one end of the string and push and pull that way. Makes for something larger and firmer to hold on to as you tug it back through the shorts.

I've done it many times this way.

 

[pigletto]

May be a pain in the butt....

Are both ends of the string lost in the waist? If it's only one end....

you might want to completely pull the string out, then attach a LARGE safety pin in one end of the string and push and pull that way. Makes for something larger and firmer to hold on to as you tug it back through the shorts.

Yep. This is the tried and true method in this house as well. It has saved many pairs of shorts, Yoga Pants and hoody sweaters over the years

Oh and if you want to also follow my method, be slightly frustrated when finished and say "Would you PLEASE stop pulling on these strings?!" lol!

 

[excitedtwinmama]

Yep. This is the tried and true method in this house as well. It has saved many pairs of shorts, Yoga Pants and hoody sweaters over the years

Oh and if you want to also follow my method, be slightly frustrated when finished and say "Would you PLEASE stop pulling on these strings?!" lol!

Yep, a safety pin is the trick to fix these, then tie a knot in each string and it will prevent them from coming out again.

 

[mrudman]

Yep, that's how I always do it... with the cords, or with the elastic in dd's adjustable pants when they somehow come off the button.

I sew a lot too, and that's how I always put cords/elastic into the waistbands of the items I sew.

 

[dzorn]

You can also use a crochet hook.

Denise in MI

 

[Jaime4004]

DD just pulled the elastic out of her brand new ballet shoes last week. It was a pain, but I threaded a long wire from a spiral bound notebook through it, then attached the elastic to the wire and pulled it back out, very slowly as it kept getting hung up. It was a painful process, the elastic and the shoe were tiny, but it was less painful than buying new shoes after only wearing them once.

 

[elf]

Thank you everyone,

One string is out, I will pull out and the the safety pin thing. I was hesitant to pull whole thing out, but now I will.

Leaving for work, I'm sure I'll be doing this at midnight all bleary eyed. But I'm thankful to have ideas.

 

[NotUrsula]

Here is a tip: wrap a tiny bit of scotch tape flat around the middle of the safety pin and then put soap on it before you go to pull it through; it will slide better, and it is less likely that you will pinch too hard and inadvertently open the safety pin while it is inside the casing.

For future reference, the best thing to do to prevent this isn't knotting the ends; knots can get pulled right into the casing if the fabric is stretchy. In future you should put a few tacking stitches through the casing AND the string at the center back seam; once that is done the drawstring will only tighten, not slide. (In a pinch you can use a tiny safety pin on the inside of the garment to do this, but my kids hate metal next to the skin.)

There is an actual tool available for doing this that works better than a pin; it is called a bodkin. You can get them in the notions section of a fabric store. For kid's clothes, make sure to buy one that is both short and narrow, as the casings tend to be skinny and the waistbands pretty small.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

For future reference, the best thing to do to prevent this isn't knotting the ends; knots can get pulled right into the casing if the fabric is stretchy. In future you should put a few tacking stitches through the casing AND the string at the center back seam; once that is done the drawstring will only tighten, not slide.

Yes! That is what I do as well. Keeps the string from pulling out again. Also works for bathrobe ties.

 

[elf]

Mission Accomplished, LOL!

Pin worked good last night.

slow moving, pain in the butt.

I wish I saw the thread to tape the pin closed I think that would have made it smoother. Or maybe to buy the bobkin thingie.

The opening was small but had small pin so worked ok.
I tied knots on the strings..

Live and learn.
Thank you everyone.