Bra Making Tutorial: How to Sew a Hook & Eye on a Bra

How to sew hooks & eyes and eyes on a bra – this is my favorite step because it means I’m on the home stretch and only have a few more steps until I’m finished! My tip for achieving a super clean and straight hook & eye is my secret weapon – Odif’s 505 Spray adhesive. It’s on my Amazon list for favorite bra making supplies, and it’s one of those tools that if I were to run out mid-sewing, I would stop and get more.

First, what is a hook & eye and what is it used for? A hook & eye is a type of closure usually found on the back of a bra or bralette. It is 2 pieces and consists of a metal or a plastic hook on one side and eyes (or “eyelets”) of the same material on the other side. The hooks fit into the eyes and offer adjustability on a bra. Hooks & eyes can come in several sizes , from 1×3 to 2×3, 3×3, 4×3, and higher. The more rows of hooks & eyes, the more support.

Shop all Madalynne’s hooks & eyes in the lingerie notions + trims section of the webshop.

Also, which side do the hooks and eyes go on? Great question! The eyes go on the left side and the hooks go on the right side (if you’re look at it).

Okay, so how the heck do you sew these guys?  For both the hooks and the eyes, you’re going to open the hook and eye and spray inside using Odif’s. Then, you will wrap each around the raw edge at the center back and sew with a straight stitch as close to the edge as possible (approximately 1/8”). You may have to adjust your needle position. For the hook side, you MUST make sure that the hooks are facing up to avoid your hooks from damaging the face plate on your sewing machine.

BTW – If you’re hook and eye doesn’t fit, I have this tutorial for a quick fix.