Fabrics and care · 8 October 2026 · 3 min read
How to put a drawstring back in a shalwar
How to rethread a drawstring or nala that has come out of a shalwar or slipped into the waistband, with a safety pin or bodkin, and how to stop it happening again.
InspirationA safety pin does the job
To put a drawstring back into a shalwar, fasten a large safety pin or a bodkin to one end of the nala, push it into the opening of the waistband casing, and work it round by bunching the fabric onto the pin and smoothing it back behind, a little at a time, until it comes out at the other opening. It takes a few minutes and no sewing skills.
The same method works for trousers, pyjamas and skirts with a drawstring waist. Our shalwar style guide shows how the waistband casing is usually made.
What you need
A bodkin is a blunt, flat needle with a large eye, made for this exact job, but most people use whatever they have.
- A large safety pin, a bodkin, or a long, thin hair grip.
- A second safety pin to hold the far end of the nala in place.
- For a narrow cord, a drinking straw and a little tape, or a crochet hook.
- The drawstring itself, with neat, knotted or taped ends so they do not fray inside the casing.
Rethreading, step by step
Lay the shalwar flat with the waistband opening facing you.
- Pin the safety pin through one end of the nala and close it, so the pin leads with its rounded end.
- Pin the other end of the nala across the casing opening with the second pin, so the tail cannot be pulled inside.
- Push the pinned end into the casing. Hold it through the fabric, bunch the fabric up over it, then hold the pin still and smooth the fabric back behind it. Repeat, travelling round the waist.
- At the side seams, the pin may catch on the seam allowance inside. Back up a little, wiggle it flatter and ease it past.
- Once the pin comes out of the opening, unpin both ends and even up the lengths on each side.
- Tie each end in a large knot so it cannot slip back inside.
When the nala has slipped inside the casing
If the drawstring has disappeared into the waistband but is still in there, feel along the casing to find an end. Work that end towards the opening with your fingers, bunching and smoothing the casing as above, and hook it out with the safety pin when it appears. If both ends are deep inside, it is often quicker to pull it all the way out and rethread it.
If the old nala is frayed or too short, tie the new one firmly to its end and pull the old one out; the new one follows it through.
Stopping it from happening again
A few habits stop the nala going missing. Knot both ends before every wash, or tie them together into a loop. Take it out of very delicate shalwars before washing and rethread it afterwards. To fix it in place permanently, a few hand stitches through the casing and the nala at the centre back hold it while still letting you pull it.
Some people prefer a waist that is part elastic, part drawstring, or elastic alone, for trousers and shalwars. When you order through custom stitching, you can mention your waistband preference with your quote request, and we confirm what is possible on your fabric and design. Our trouser measuring guide explains how waist measurements are taken.
Common questions
What is the difference between a nala and an azarband?
They are two names for the same thing: the drawstring that runs through the waistband of a shalwar or pyjama. Some families use one name and some the other.
What can I use if I do not have a safety pin?
A long hair grip, a chopstick for wide casings, or a straw with the cord taped inside it all work. Anything long, smooth and blunt that will not tear the casing is fine.
