How to fix underwire bra

Miss Mary uses high quality metal underwires that are flat and plastic coated with rounded ends. The colour indicates the size of the curve and the side that should sit between the breasts.

THE WRONG BRA SIZE CAN BREAK THE UNDERWIRE
Even a really good quality underwire can’t withstand anything that’s thrown at it. Wearing a bra with a cup size or circumference that is too small will stretch the band around the body too much, forcing the underwire to change shape. This stress can cause the underwire to deform or, in the worst case, break. Many women wear their bras for several years and don’t consider that the bra will wear out and stretch over a long period of use. If you have put on weight and are wearing a bra that has stretched, a lot of strain will be put on the garment. If you feel that the underwire is pressing against your ribcage under your breasts when you sit down it is a sign that your bra’s band size is too small.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF THE UNDERWIRE IN YOUR BRA BREAKS?
If you’re away from home (and there’s not a bra shop close by) when your underwire breaks, you have three options in practice: make do with wearing a broken bra until you get home, go bra-free, or convert your bra to a non-wired bra by removing the underwire. None of these are optimal solutions.

Wearing a bra with a broken or deformed underwire can be painful and is not something we recommend. Removing the underwire to fix it with tape, glue or by welding it together is also not recommended. If you own an older but otherwise identical bra in the same size and make, you can try removing the underwire from the old one and putting it into the new one. Don’t try using the underwire from a different brand of bra even if they are both labelled with the same size. Underwires have different heights and shapes, and forcing an underwire with a different shape into another bra can damage the garment.

Be aware that if you remove the underwire your bra may no longer fit well or provide the same support. If your bra breaks at an inopportune moment, however, you sometimes just have to accept that there is no other choice, after all who goes around with a spare bra in their handbag?

CAN YOU REMOVE THE UNDERWIRE AND STILL USE THE BRA?
Even if the cut of an underwired bra looks the same as that of a non-wired one, you can’t just remove the underwire and continue using the bra as normal. Although they may look the same, they are constructed differently. If you remove the underwire from the bra it will no longer continue to provide the same support as before. The underwire distributes support across the different sections of the bra. It affects not only the cups themselves but also the front and wings (sides/back) of the bra. See the picture below.

Underwire bras are popular among women because of the support they provide to the breasts. But no matter how well the bra is made, and no matter the cost, the underwire sometimes creates a hole on the fabric where it is encased. When there is already a hole, the wire may begin to come out and poke your body.  This can be uncomfortable when you feel the poke with your every move.

The inner side of the underwire bra

Are you thinking of throwing the poor bra away?  It is not your best option, though. Maybe in the past when there seemed to be no solution to repair broken underwires, many women threw away their bras.  Today, however, you can repair them in a short amount of time using materials that you can find inside your home or bought with little cost. You will need a piece of electrical tape, an upholstery thread with the color that matches your bra, and fabric glue.

To begin, wrap the sharp tip of the wire with electrical tape.  Don’t over-wrap, just enough so that the underwire will not easily slide back to the open hole, and to cover the sharpness. Then push the metal back in, until the tip is about half of an inch away from the hole. Close the hole by stitching it with an upholstery thread (which should be heavy duty).

Instead of stitching, you can also use a strong fabric glue to repair the hole and prevent the underwire from coming out. Once the wire has been pushed back in, you can close the hole by applying fabric glue on the material.  Let it dry completely by holding it with a clamp. As soon as it gets dried, you can wear your favorite bra and can also wash it, as the glue that you applied on the bra is washable.  You just need to complete the repair with care.

Another material that you can use to repair your underwire bra is the moleskin.  This is the patch that you use when you want to remove the calluses on your feet. Cut a small piece of the moleskin and patch it to the broken fabric. It will adhere to itself and at the same time provide a soft cushion against the wire. The smaller is the patch, the more seamless the repair will look.

Now push the underwire back inside the encasement, leaving only fabric on the area with hole.  This will get the repair done easily.  Get the moleskin that you cut and remove its backing, then press it against the hole created by the wire. Using your thumbs begin to smoothen the patch so it will stay in place. 

You’re done now!  The bra has been repaired, and you can again wear it. 

It is recommended that you wear the repaired bra several times before getting it washed.  Let your body heat make the glue stick better to the fabric. Now you know that throwing away broken underwire bras is a waste of money.  Well made bras cost from above $50 and may be more.  Why throw your money away when you can use them again by repairing your valuable bras.

A perfectly snug, supportive bra is hard to find—especially when said bra is the only undergarment that really *gets* you among a drawer littered with ill-fitting options. But with regular use comes regular wear, and it's only a matter of time before your everyday bra begins to bear the mark of a doomed undergarment—the broken underwire.

Fabric breakdown is inevitable, but that doesn't make dealing with the pain of a broken underwire bra any easier. "Fabric has a lifespan depending on your wearing and washing cycle," says Laetitia Lecigne, creative director at Jockey. Fortunately, a quick, at-home fix exists to eliminate the discomfort of an underwire poking out and digging into sensitive skin.

If the underwire is snapped and simply beyond repair, it's time to upgrade your undergarments. But if you're not yet ready to part with your tried-and-true bra, follow this step-by-step guide to repairing broken underwires for extended wear.

• Needle and upholstery thread ($7 for 2 spools, amazon.com)
• 1-inch piece of duct tape
• Clear nail polish

1. Begin by pulling out the protruding underwire slightly, so that 2-3 inches of the wire is visible beyond the broken seam.
2. Cover the end of the wire by wrapping a one-inch piece of duct tape around the metal tip. This will prevent the wire from tearing through the fabric once more after repair.
3. Gently thread the wire back through the hole in the fabric until the wire is back in its original position.
4. Thread the needle using a 6-8 inch length of upholstery thread (the heavy-duty alternative to traditional string) and stitch gap in the fabric closed. Form a knot to tie off the thread once the seam is sewn shut.
5. Prevent the stitch from coming undone by lightly painting on a layer of clear nail polish over the seam. Allow the polish to dry before wear.

Thanks for your feedback!

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about bra hacks, and that post ended up receiving a lot of great feedback! It’s really neat that something as simple as wearing a bra every day can give us so many shared experiences to bond over (though not all of them are positive of course!) ;-)

Related: This Brand Makes The Most Comfortable Bras Ever

One of the less fun bra-related experiences that many women have shared is dealing with exposed underwire. You know, when the underwire rips through the fabric and starts stabbing you in the ribs or armpit? And today we’ll be exploring this issue in depth, and I’ll tell you exactly how to fix a broken underwire bra!

What Causes Exposed Underwire?

The purpose of underwire is to lift and support. Its purpose is not to scratch you or threaten your internal organs, but it sometimes ends up that way. So how is our underwire going so awry?

An exposed underwire is usually caused by one of two problems. First, it could be that the bra doesn’t fit you the way it should. (If you’re not sure if you know your correct bra size, don’t hesitate to have a fitting done by an experienced professional!)

Another potential problem is improper care. Bras should be washed gently with a mild detergent. Aggressive washing and concentrated detergents can weaken the fabric, exacerbating those unfortunate underwire issues!

Fixing The Problem

While understanding the potential causes of exposed underwire may help you avoid the problem in the future, it doesn’t do you much good in terms of fixing the problem now!

That’s why I’m sharing a quick and easy solution that you can use to fix that broken underwire bra so you can keep wearing it! Because in real life, we don’t always get things exactly right. So instead we find a fix, learn something, and move on! :-)

Tools & Supplies

For this fix, you’ll need the following supplies:

How To Fix A Broken Underwire Bra

Step 1 – Reposition The Wire

Start by pushing the exposed underwire back into its original position.

Step 2 – Cut The Moleskin

Inspect the hole that the underwire left behind in the fabric to determine how big your patch should be. You’ll want your patch to be big enough to cover both the hole itself and the area around it to make sure there’s enough adhesive to keep it securely in place.

Once you know what size it should be, use a sharp pair of scissors to cut out the moleskin patch.

Step 3 – Apply The Patch

Remove the adhesive backing and apply the patch over the hole. Press the patch down firmly for several seconds to make sure it stays put.

And just like that, you’re done! Your underwire woes are no more, and you can once again wear your bra without fear of bodily harm.

How Long Will This Fix Last?

In my experience, this is one of those rare fixes that actually seems to get stronger over time. It seems as though body heat helps the moleskin adhesive to fuse with the fabric of the bra!

I’ve put a moleskin-patched bra through the washer and dryer many times with no issue. I can’t promise this fix will last indefinitely, but it should last you a good, long time!

Do you have a favorite quick fix for a bra-related issue?