Draw cord
Construction — one of 70 in the glossary
A cord or flat tape run through a hem, casing or hood that pulls to tighten an opening. On hoodies it adjusts the hood, on jackets the waist or hem, on sweatpants the waistband. Cord quality and the presence of metal or plastic tips and cord locks are a visible quality signal on fleece. For decorating, a hood drawcord is the reason a hood print is awkward, and the cord must be pulled clear of the platen before pressing, since a cord trapped under heat leaves a permanent line in the fabric.
Adjusting an opening
A drawcord is a cord or flat tape running through a hem, casing or hood, which pulls to tighten the opening it runs through.
On hoodies it adjusts the hood, on jackets the hem or waist, on sweatpants the waistband.
The casing matters as much as the cord: a well-made one lets the cord run freely and does not bunch when pulled.
Hardware as a quality signal
Cord tips — metal or moulded plastic aglets rather than a knot or a heat-sealed end — are visible and cheap to omit, so they are a fair signal.
Cord locks let a cord be tightened and held without a knot, and their presence usually means the garment was specified with some care.
Flat tape drawcords look more contemporary than round cords and are harder to lose into the casing, since they twist less.
For a decorator, take the cord off the platen
A cord trapped under a heat press leaves a permanent impression in the fabric, and no amount of washing takes it out.
Pull the cord clear before pressing anything near a waistband or hood. On a hood print the cord is the main reason the job is awkward.
It is a small operational detail that produces a whole ruined run when forgotten.
Common questions
- What is a drawcord?
- A cord or flat tape run through a hem, casing or hood that pulls to tighten the opening — a hood, a jacket hem, a sweatpant waistband.
- What is a cord lock?
- A small spring-loaded fitting that holds a drawcord at a chosen tension without tying it. Its presence usually means the garment was specified with some care.
- Can you heat press near a drawcord?
- Only with the cord pulled clear. A cord trapped under a press leaves a permanent impression in the fabric that will not wash out.
Where this comes up
See also
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