Do you have an open arm on your machine? If so, use that. Iron the patch on and then stitch them on using your darning foot. That way you can go any direction needed. Good luck. I know how boys can go thru them as I had five. Problem was that at that time there were no open arm machines and darning feet were nearly non-existant.

I do have an open arm machine, but the leg is still too narrow. These are size 7 girls jeans. lol

Opening the inseam is no big deal. Then you can patch or use an applique or whatever...

I ended up opening the inseam. Frustrating though, they have a triple seam. It took me forever to open it.

Ummm, why are you patching them? Kids BUY jeans with holes already in them at astonomical prices. They probably just got those jeans to where they are COOL! And you are trying to PATCH them???!!!

LOL!!

At my work, when they do jean repair, they take a piece of denim, put it under the rip, and zig zag stitch across both ways over the whole thing, always holds for me.

I have had the same problem -- I then stitched down the patches on the machine -- they are holding thru several washings

Not for my 7 yo. lol I prefer she wait a few years before she's wearing jeans with holes in them.

My husband is terrible about wearing holes in his jeans. I iron on the patch then do my best to use the sewing machine to go around all the edges. He looks like he's wearing scarecrow jeans. Yes, sometimes it does take hand sewing. :-(

Cynthia