Hooked on Needles

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Drawstring Threader -- A Handy New Must-Have Gadget

Who doesn't love a new sewing gadget? Especially one that will save time and frustration and actually work the way it is intended? I found just such a thing quite by accident the other day while shopping for my upcycled jeans class supplies.

I've always used a large safety pin to run a drawstring through its casing, not because I like using a safety pin, but because it's all I have that can do the job. My thumb always gets a cramp and sometimes the pin opens up inside the casing causing all kinds of fun and dangerous problems. I actually used to have a bodkin which is a handy little tool for this job, except that more often than not, the little ring that was supposed to hold it closed on the ribbon would move while I was running it through the casing, letting go of the ribbon and leaving the open bodkin inside the casing. Not very helpful. I looked for it the other day and couldn't find it. No big loss. I never liked it anyway.

I used this handy little gadget today and fell in love...


I found this at my local Michael's store in the sewing notions section and paid a whopping $1.99 for it. I figured it was a good investment if it worked and an inexpensive experiment if it didn't.


This is what it looks like hanging on the display. It's made by Dritz as you can see in the bottom right corner.


And here it is out of the package, just a long, flexible, plastic stick that is thicker at one end and tapers to a thinner size with two openings at the other end.


So all you do is thread your ribbon or shoestring or whatever you want to run through the casing into the two holes at the end, then run the thicker end through the casing and out the other end. I was able to run a new drawstring through the casing of an old pair of shorts this morning in about 30 seconds. This tool is so long that I didn't have to worry about securing the other end of the drawstring so that it wouldn't get pulled in.

Can you tell I was thrilled with my $1.99 investment?

There's still time to sign up for my giveaway so click HERE for a chance at a quilted sewing kit or a fabric biscornu pin cushion to celebrate my 2nd anniversary here at Hooked On Needles. I wouldn't want you to miss the celebration!

Happy Stitching!

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4 Comments:

  • That is so cool! I hate the safety pin technique, I'll have to get one of these. It looks a lot like the tool girls used to use to put beads in their hair, but bigger.

    By Blogger Karen M, At July 8, 2010 at 5:41 PM  

  • Hehehe thanks for the reminder - I have one of those downstairs somewhere, but I generally grab my short metal bodkin - the long one is a lot easier to use, so I don't know why I grab the little one!

    By Blogger Sandra :), At July 8, 2010 at 8:02 PM  

  • I'm not a big gadget person but I love a useful one that's also inexpensive. That's for the tip!!!

    By Blogger Abby and Stephanie, At July 9, 2010 at 6:55 AM  

  • How smart that looks!
    Mary Grace, I have just finished my bag made from your tutorial. It was very nice to make and I love it, so roomy! You can see it on my blog. Thank you for the tutorial!

    By Blogger Marit Johanne, At July 9, 2010 at 2:52 PM  

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