How to Repair a Bra With a Poking Underwire
By TaVare · updated 2026-07-29
Repairing a bra with an underwire that pokes out is nearly always about closing the wire casing again – not about buying a new bra. The metal wire itself is usually intact; it is the small fabric channel at the end of the underband that has worn open, letting the wire sneak out and jab you. Here is how to diagnose the damage, sew the casing shut step by step, and when to replace the wire itself or send the bra in instead.
Why the underwire pokes out
The underwire is a curved metal or plastic wire that sits in a narrow fabric channel along the bottom edge of each cup. Over time the end of the wire abrades through the channel – most often at the centre front between the cups, or out by the armpit, where the strain is greatest. Machine washing and especially tumble drying speed this up: heat and agitation twist the wire out of shape and weaken the fabric, so the wire takes on a sharp angle that bores its way out. So check two things before you repair: is the fabric channel simply opened while the wire is intact, or is the wire itself bent or broken? The answer decides whether you sew it shut or replace the wire.
First aid: push the wire back and secure the hole
If you need the bra right away, you can give it a temporary rescue. Gently push the wire all the way back into the channel, and lay something soft over the hole on the inside so the tip cannot poke out again before you get to sew.
- Feel for where the wire tip should sit, and push it all the way back into the channel.
- Lay a piece of medical tape, moleskin or a small scrap of soft fabric over the opening on the inside of the bra.
- Avoid the tumble dryer and machine wash until it is properly repaired – heat makes the damage worse.
- Treat the temporary fix as a few days' breathing room, not a lasting repair.
How to sew the casing shut
If the wire is intact and the casing has only opened, the repair is quick. The goal is to build a solid barrier at the end of the channel that the wire can never bore through again. Use strong, doubled polyester thread in a close colour match.
- Push the wire fully back into place, with the end pointing upward the way it should lie.
- If the fabric at the end of the channel is frayed, fold a small scrap of soft fabric or a piece of cotton tape over the end on the inside, as a cushion against the tip.
- Pinch the opening together and sew it shut with tight whipstitches or backstitches across the end.
- Sew back and forth six to eight times over the very end, building a dense bar tack the wire cannot get past.
- Secure the thread with a double knot on the inside, and hide the tail inside the channel.
- Optional: a drop of fabric glue or fray stopper on frayed channel fabric prevents further unravelling.
When the wire is bent or broken
If the metal wire is bent out of shape or snapped with a sharp end, sewing the channel will not help – the deformed wire keeps poking. Then the wire itself has to go. Replacement underwires come in numbered sizes; measure the old one along its curve, end to end, to find the right length. Pull the damaged wire out through a small opening in the channel, slide the new one in with the end well seated, and sew the opening shut as above. If you have no replacement wire, the intact wire on the opposite side shows you the right shape – but never wear a wire with a sharp, cut end against your skin.
How to stop it happening again
Most of the wear on a bra happens in the wash, not on your body. A few simple habits make the wire and fabric last much longer:
- Hand-wash, or use a laundry bag and a gentle cycle – never a tumble dryer, which twists the wire and shrinks the channel.
- Fasten the hooks before washing, so the bra does not snag on other laundry and get pulled out of shape.
- Dry it flat; hanging it by the cups lets the weight drag on the channels.
- Let your bras rest a day between wears, so the elastic and fabric recover.
- Store the cups nested inside one another, not folded – a folded cup kinks the wire over time.
Send the bra to us
If it is a favourite or an expensive bra, a sports bra with complex construction or moulded cups, or you would simply rather not sew the fiddly fabric yourself, you can send it to us. We sew the wire casing shut or replace the wire itself according to how the bra is built, so the edge is smooth and safe against the skin. If the garment also needs a seam or a hook, we handle it in the same round. We help customers across Norway, you order online, and you see the price before you order.
You see the price before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the underwire poke out of my bra?+
Because the end of the wire abrades through the fabric channel over time – usually at the centre front or by the armpit. Machine washing and tumble drying speed it up by twisting the wire out of shape and weakening the fabric.
Do I have to throw the bra away when the wire pokes out?+
No. Usually the wire is intact and only the casing has opened – then sewing the end shut with a dense bar tack and a little reinforcement is enough. Only if the wire is bent or broken should you replace the wire itself.
How do I stop the wire poking out again?+
Hand-wash or use a laundry bag, fasten the hooks, skip the tumble dryer, dry the bra flat and let it rest a day between wears. Most of the wear happens in the wash.
Can you repair the bra for me?+
Yes. We sew the wire casing shut or replace the wire according to how the bra is built, and can handle a seam or hook at the same time. You order online, and you see the price before you order.
Rather have us handle it?
You see the price before you order.