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October 31, 2013 11:36 AM Subscribe
I'm ruining my shirts. For the 6th time in the last few months, I was sitting at my desk at work today and felt like my elbow was cold. I reached down and discovered a tear in the left elbow of my dress shirt. Every time this has happened, it's been on the bottom of the left elbow, and it's always happened on a work day. Why is this happening to me?
They're mostly J. Crew shirts, but two of them were hardier Uniqlo shirts. I've walked around the office, seeing if theres a door frame or desk edge that I'm catching but nothing seems likely. I am right handed, and might rest my chin on my left elbow occasionally while mousing around, but it seems weird that that would be tearing them. They fit well, and I've never felt it tear (like if they were tight and I bent my arm and it tore or something). Anyone ever have similar problems? or culprits for me to investigate? I'd really like to nip this in the bud because ruining shirts is an expensive and not-fun hobby for me.
They're mostly J. Crew shirts, but two of them were hardier Uniqlo shirts. I've walked around the office, seeing if theres a door frame or desk edge that I'm catching but nothing seems likely. I am right handed, and might rest my chin on my left elbow occasionally while mousing around, but it seems weird that that would be tearing them. They fit well, and I've never felt it tear (like if they were tight and I bent my arm and it tore or something). Anyone ever have similar problems? or culprits for me to investigate? I'd really like to nip this in the bud because ruining shirts is an expensive and not-fun hobby for me.
Does your work chair have armrests?
posted by srboisvert at 11:40 AM on October 31, 2013
posted by srboisvert at 11:40 AM on October 31, 2013
Best answer: Another previous question. Though no one culprit was identified, many suggestions (and fixes) were offered, including having a tailor patch the elbow, which then makes the elbow much tougher and more resistant to future rips.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:41 AM on October 31, 2013
posted by filthy light thief at 11:41 AM on October 31, 2013
Response by poster: That's hilarious, I didn't even check for previous questions because it seemed so unlikely. I'll read through these.
My chair has armrests, but they're kind of smooth soft plasticky thing so I didn't suspect it. I may switch chairs anyways just in case...
posted by DynamiteToast at 11:44 AM on October 31, 2013
My chair has armrests, but they're kind of smooth soft plasticky thing so I didn't suspect it. I may switch chairs anyways just in case...
posted by DynamiteToast at 11:44 AM on October 31, 2013
Which arm do you use your mouse with? Are you dragging your elbow when using the computer?
posted by bottlebrushtree at 12:00 PM on October 31, 2013
posted by bottlebrushtree at 12:00 PM on October 31, 2013
I'm tall and have a tendency to rip at the elbow on button down shirts. For me I think it's a combo of always leaning on tables and desks with my elbows wearing at the fabric and the sleeves of most shirts never being quite long enough creating a lot of stress on the fabric at the elbow when I bend my arms.
posted by cecic at 12:13 PM on October 31, 2013
posted by cecic at 12:13 PM on October 31, 2013
Roll up your sleeves. It will relieve the tension the buttoned cuff provides.
posted by Ironmouth at 12:27 PM on October 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Ironmouth at 12:27 PM on October 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
Total stab in the dark: do you have dry, scaly elbows? If so, maybe try moisturising them to decrease the friction on your sleeve.
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 12:49 PM on October 31, 2013
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 12:49 PM on October 31, 2013
Which arm do you use your mouse with? Are you dragging your elbow when using the computer?
Along these same lines: my desk is set up so that my computer is on the left side. This means that when I'm typing and resting my forearms on the desk, my body is turned to the left, with the result that my right elbow is resting on the desk while my left arm is supported by the fleshy part of my forearm; the left elbow suspended in midair. My mouse hand is also my right hand. These two factors cause a lot more wear on my right elbow than my left, and my shirts seem to wear out on the right elbow more often than the left.
So: is your computer on the right-hand side of your desk? And do you use your left hand for the mouse?
posted by Johnny Assay at 1:03 PM on October 31, 2013
Along these same lines: my desk is set up so that my computer is on the left side. This means that when I'm typing and resting my forearms on the desk, my body is turned to the left, with the result that my right elbow is resting on the desk while my left arm is supported by the fleshy part of my forearm; the left elbow suspended in midair. My mouse hand is also my right hand. These two factors cause a lot more wear on my right elbow than my left, and my shirts seem to wear out on the right elbow more often than the left.
So: is your computer on the right-hand side of your desk? And do you use your left hand for the mouse?
posted by Johnny Assay at 1:03 PM on October 31, 2013
It happens to my work shirts regularly. I think it is because I spend a lot of my work day on the phone, and I hold the phone in my left hand while resting my elbow on the desk.
Also my elbows are sharpened to knife points.
posted by biscotti at 4:16 PM on October 31, 2013
Also my elbows are sharpened to knife points.
posted by biscotti at 4:16 PM on October 31, 2013
I had this same exact problem, and it turns out that the culprit was a glass top to my (wooden) desk. The edges weren't sharp, but the way I sat I would constantly be rubbing my left elbow across the edge of the glass which caused me to ruin quite a few shirts. Not sure if this is the same problem you are having, but it baffled me for the longest time.
posted by Literaryhero at 3:37 AM on November 1, 2013
posted by Literaryhero at 3:37 AM on November 1, 2013
I wear long sleeves at work, and this happens to me, except to my right elbow (I'm left handed). My chair armrests were (I'll get to that) smooth and cushioned plastic. When I shift around at work (lean forward, sit on one leg, move back to both legs down, cross my legs, etc) I put part of my weight on the armrests. Apparently mostly on my right armrest.
In fact, it's gotten bad enough that two weeks ago, the padding on my right armrest has split. The left one is fine. Now, if I have my sleeve's rulled up, because of the split in the padding, I'm *very* aware if/when I put weight on the armrests, because as soon as I release the weight, my elbow skin gets pinched by the padding. I'm very postive that the split in the padding is a recent event, and wasn't the cause of my elbow destruction.
posted by nobeagle at 8:32 AM on November 1, 2013
In fact, it's gotten bad enough that two weeks ago, the padding on my right armrest has split. The left one is fine. Now, if I have my sleeve's rulled up, because of the split in the padding, I'm *very* aware if/when I put weight on the armrests, because as soon as I release the weight, my elbow skin gets pinched by the padding. I'm very postive that the split in the padding is a recent event, and wasn't the cause of my elbow destruction.
posted by nobeagle at 8:32 AM on November 1, 2013
When you bend your elbow you stretch out that fabric, and then rubbing on the hard furniture stresses the threads.
My (tall!) brother's dress shirts did this when he was a phone support guy (who had to dress up) and then a techie (who still had to dress up). The elbows of the shirts wore out where they rubbed on the chair arms while he used his computer, with arms bent to type/mouse. *shrug* He either wore a jacket over them or bought new shirts.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:09 AM on November 1, 2013
My (tall!) brother's dress shirts did this when he was a phone support guy (who had to dress up) and then a techie (who still had to dress up). The elbows of the shirts wore out where they rubbed on the chair arms while he used his computer, with arms bent to type/mouse. *shrug* He either wore a jacket over them or bought new shirts.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:09 AM on November 1, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks for all the answers everyone, after reading through this and the other threads I assumed it was some combination of normal stress and having long arms, so have tried to change my posture/habits and not lean on my elbows much.
Last night I took my dog on a walk and as we walked out my front door I scratched my left elbow on something. Turning around, I noticed there was a small nail sticking out of my door jamb that had caught me as I walked by! While all the advice about better posture and wear and tear knowledge will certainly help, I'm hoping the nail was secretly the culprit all along so that this problem is over.
posted by DynamiteToast at 7:01 AM on November 18, 2013
Last night I took my dog on a walk and as we walked out my front door I scratched my left elbow on something. Turning around, I noticed there was a small nail sticking out of my door jamb that had caught me as I walked by! While all the advice about better posture and wear and tear knowledge will certainly help, I'm hoping the nail was secretly the culprit all along so that this problem is over.
posted by DynamiteToast at 7:01 AM on November 18, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by something something at 11:38 AM on October 31, 2013 [1 favorite]