Have you ever looked at a pair of store-bought joggers and admired that perfect, professional-looking drawstring waistband? It looks so clean and comfortable. You might think adding one to your own handmade shorts or pants is too complicated. All those stitches, the little metal eyelets, and the elastic—it seems like a lot to handle.
But I’m here to let you in on a secret: it’s much easier than it looks!
I’m going to walk you through every single step of how to add a drawstring waistband to any pattern. We’ll break it all down into simple, manageable pieces. Forget the confusion. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to create a sturdy, functional, and beautiful waistband that will make your projects look like they came straight from a high-end store.
Let’s get sewing!
Getting Your Tools and Materials Ready
Before we start, let’s gather everything we need. Having all your supplies in one place makes the whole process smooth and fun. You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to get a great result.
| Item | What It’s For | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Waistband Fabric | The main fabric for your waistband. | Use the same fabric as your garment or a sturdy rib knit for a classic look. |
| Drawstring Cord | The cord you’ll use to tie the waist. | You can buy pre-made cord or easily make your own from scrap fabric. |
| Elastic | For a snug and comfortable fit. | 3/8-inch wide elastic works great for a multi-channel waistband like this. |
| Grommets | The metal rings for your drawstring holes. | These add a durable and professional touch. Get a kit that includes the setting tool. |
| Interfacing | A small scrap to strengthen the fabric. | This is key! It prevents the grommets from ripping out of your fabric over time. |
| Basic Sewing Tools | Sewing machine, thread, scissors, pins. | A serger is nice but not needed. A simple zigzag stitch works perfectly. |
| Safety Pin | The magic tool for threading elastic and cords. | A large safety pin will be your best friend for this step. |
Step 1: Create Your Drawstring
First, let’s talk about the drawstring itself. You can absolutely use a store-bought shoelace or cord. But if you want a perfect match, making your own is simple.
Just cut a long strip of fabric. A good length is about two and a half times your waist measurement. Make the strip about 1.75 inches wide. Fold it in half lengthwise with the right sides of the fabric together. Sew along the long raw edge to create a tube.
Once it’s sewn, turn the tube right-side out. You can use a safety pin or a special tube-turning tool for this. Press it flat, and your custom drawstring is ready to go! Set it aside for later.
Step 2: Prepare the Waistband
Now, let’s build the waistband. Cut your waistband fabric according to your pattern. Sew the short ends together to create a circle.
Next, fold this circle in half lengthwise, with the wrong sides of the fabric touching. Press it flat. You now have a finished waistband loop, with the raw edges all lined up at the bottom and a clean fold at the top.
Find the spot that will be the very front and center of your waistband. This is where your drawstring will come out. Mark this spot with a fabric marker. This little mark is our guide for adding the grommets.
Step 3: Adding Grommets for a Professional Look
Grommets are the key to making your DIY drawstring pants look amazing. Don’t be scared of them! The process is simple, and hammering them in is one of my favorite parts.
First, we need to make the fabric strong. Cut a small square of interfacing, just big enough to cover the area where your grommets will go. Turn your waistband inside out and iron the interfacing onto the back of the fabric, right over your center mark. This simple step makes a huge difference in durability.
Now, turn the waistband right-side out again. Mark two dots on the front, one about half an inch to the left of your center mark, and one half an inch to the right. This is where your grommets will live.
Carefully snip a tiny hole at each dot. Only cut through the top layer of fabric! You want the drawstring to be caught inside the waistband, not fall through both layers. Start with a very small hole; you can always make it bigger, but you can’t make it smaller.
Push the front piece of a grommet through the hole from the outside. Place the back piece (the “washer”) on the inside. Use the tool that came with your grommet kit and give it a few firm taps with a hammer. It will clamp together beautifully. Repeat for the other side, and just like that, you’ve installed perfect grommets.
Step 4: Sew the Casings
The “casing” is just a fancy word for the tunnels that will hold our elastic and drawstring. We are going to sew a few straight lines to create these tunnels.
Using a stretch stitch on your sewing machine (like a lightning bolt stitch or a narrow zigzag), sew a line all the way around the waistband, about half an inch up from the bottom raw edge.
Here is the most important part: Do not sew all the way around in a complete circle. Leave a 2-inch gap at the back of the waistband. This opening is how we’ll get the elastic inside.
Now, sew two more lines of stitching, each half an inch above the last one. Remember to leave that 2-inch gap in the back for each line. You will end up with three neat rows of stitching, creating three separate channels inside your waistband.
| Casing Channel | What Goes Inside |
|---|---|
| Top Channel | Elastic |
| Middle Channel | Drawstring |
| Bottom Channel | Elastic |
Step 5: Thread Everything Through
It’s time to bring it all together. Grab your large safety pin.
Attach the pin to the end of one piece of elastic. Feed it through the gap you left in the top channel. Guide it all the way around until it comes out the same gap. Overlap the two ends of the elastic and sew them together securely with a zigzag stitch. Let the sewn elastic disappear back inside the casing.
Next, take your drawstring. Feed one end into one grommet, push it all the way through the middle channel, and bring it out the other grommet.
Finally, repeat the process with your second piece of elastic in the bottom channel. Once all your elastic is in and secured, go back and sew those little 2-inch gaps closed. Your waistband is now fully loaded and ready!
Step 6: Attach the Waistband to Your Garment
This is the final step! We just need to sew a drawstring waist onto your shorts or pants.
Find the center front, center back, and side points on both your waistband and your garment. Match these four points up, pinning the waistband to the garment with the right sides of the fabric together. The grommets should be at the front.
Gently stretch the waistband as you pin it to fit the garment opening. This ensures everything is attached evenly without any puckers.
Head over to your sewing machine or serger and sew the waistband to the garment along the raw edge. Use a stretch stitch to make sure the seam can stretch with the fabric.
FAQs
How do I insert a drawstring?
Use a large safety pin. Attach the pin to one end of your string. Push the pin into one of the holes. Gently guide it through the waistband tunnel. Keep pushing until it comes out the other side. Pull the string through and remove the pin.
How to sew a drawstring hole?
The best way is to use grommets. First, add interfacing to the back of the fabric. This makes the area strong. Then you cut a tiny hole. You hammer the grommet in place. You can also sew two buttonholes. Sew them side-by-side. Then carefully cut the buttonholes open.
How to get a string through a waistband?
A safety pin is the easiest tool. Pin it to the end of your drawstring. Feed the pin into the casing opening. Bunch the fabric up and push the pin along. You can feel it moving inside the tunnel. Work it all the way around and out the other side.
How to sew a casing for a drawstring?
A casing is a tunnel for your string. Fold the top edge of your waistband down. Press it with an iron. Sew a straight line near the bottom edge. Leave a small opening. This is how you will insert the string. You can also sew several lines to create tunnels for elastic and string.
How to tie a waist drawstring?
First, finish the ends of your string. You can tie a simple knot on each end. This stops them from fraying. To tie the waist, make a bow. It is just like tying your shoes. Make two loops. Cross them over. Then pull one loop through the hole. Pull it tight to secure your waistband.
You Did It!
Trim any loose threads, and step back to admire your work. Look at that amazing, functional, and stylish drawstring waistband! You made that. It adds so much comfort and gives your handmade clothes a polished, ready-to-wear look.
Learning how to add a drawstring waistband is a fantastic skill that opens up so many possibilities for customizing your clothes. Now that you know the secret, you can add this feature to joggers, shorts, pajama pants, and even skirts.
What will be the first project you upgrade with a new drawstring waistband? Let me know in the comments below—I’d love to see what you create!