Comments on: Possible to Repair Dress Shirt Sleeve?

Question: Possible to Repair Dress Shirt Sleeve?

Bulgaroktonos — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:39:20 -0800

I got a tear in my dress shirt sleeve today, and I'm wonder if it's something that a tailor could repair.

Obviously, the answer to this question is "find a tailor and ask them," but I'd rather not bother with the hassle of going to the tailor if it's impossible. The tear looks like this, as you can see it's pretty long and runs directly down one of the creases in the shirt sleeve. The shirt is oldish so if it's a total loss that's fine, but I'd rather not go getting rid of a shirt if there's a chance of preserving it.

Does this look like something a tailor could do something with? If so how obvious would the repair be?

By: mmf

mmf — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:52:34 -0800

It can pretty easily be patched, but the patch would be visible. Even with a perfect material match, but it would make a fine "Saturday shirt".

By: payoto

payoto — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:52:43 -0800

IANAT but I don't think this is an easy repair because it's not on a seam, nor is it small enough that a repair would go unnoticed. It looks to me like the shirt was repeatedly cleaned and pressed on the same crease and that weakened it. If that's the case, even if you have this tear repaired, the shirt is likely to tear in another spot.

By: xingcat

xingcat — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:56:07 -0800

You could cut it down to a short-sleeved shirt!

By: Ideefixe

Ideefixe — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:10:12 -0800

I think this means that the fabric has worn out. You can cut it shorter, but frankly, it's time to get a new shirt.

By: atrazine

atrazine — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:20:27 -0800

You could cut it down to a short-sleeved shirt!

Now you have two problems.

By: Bulgaroktonos

Bulgaroktonos — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:38:58 -0800

Yeah, I sort of figured it was time to get rid of it, but I thought I'd double check before getting rid of a shirt. Thanks for the assistance.

By: Ruthless Bunny

Ruthless Bunny — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:39:32 -0800

If it's not on a seam, it's time to get a new shirt.

Besides, if you shop the sales well, you can get an awesome shirt for less than a tailor would charge.

Here's one at Macy's for $21.99

I got a Ben Sherman for Husbunny for $20 once.

On-line is okay, but the real deals are in the store. Be sure to get some coupons from the paper, or ask the sales person if they have any behind the counter (they do.)