Locate the hole or tear that requires patching.

The pictured item has a burn hole. In that case, cut away any scorched or melted pieces around the hole.

If possible, stitch the tear closed before attaching the patch.

This will seal the tear on the inside so it doesn't grow bigger or get caught while the garment is being worn.

If the tear is too large to be stitched closed, see the last step in this guide for details on creating an underpatch.