[If] a kerchief was tamei midras, and one gave it [over] to be [used as a cover for a] Torah scroll, it becomes tahor from midras [tumah], but it is tamei with corpse-tumah. [If] a waterskin was made into a mat or a mat was made into a waterskin, it is tahor. [If] a waterskin was made into a shepherd’s pouch or a shepherd’s pouch was made into a waterskin; [if] a pillow was made into a bedsheet or a bedsheet was made into a pillow; [if] a mattress was made into a flat sheet or a flat sheet was made into a mattress, [it remains] tamei. This is the general rule: Any [article] that is changed into [an article] of the same [type of use] retains its tumah; [if it is changed into an article] of a different [type of use], it is tahor.

[If] a patch was sewn onto a basket, it contaminates one and invalidates one. [If] one [then] separated it from the basket, the basket contaminates one and invalidates one, but the patch becomes tahor. [If] it was sewn onto a cloth, it contaminates two and invalidates one. [If] he [then] separated it from the cloth, the cloth contaminates one and invalidates one, but the patch contaminates two and invalidates one. The same applies if one sewed [a patch] onto sack or onto leather; [these are] the words of R’ Meir. R’ Shimon rules that it is tahor. R’ Yose says: [If he sewed the patch] onto leather, it is tahor; onto sack, it is tamei, since it is woven.

[The minimum measure of] three by three [fingerbreadths] that [the Rabbis] stated [regarding cloth] is [for the cloth] without the hem. These are the words of R’ Shimon. But the Sages say: [The minimum measure is] precisely three-by-three fingerbreadths. [If a patch] was sewn onto a garment on one side, it is not [considered] attached; on two sides, one opposite the other, it is [considered] attached. [If] it was sewn [onto the garment] in the shape of [the Greek letter] gamma, R’ Akiva rules that it is tamei, but the Sages rule that it is tahor. R’ Yehudah said: When are these things said? With [regard to] a cloak. But with [regard] to a shirt, [if it is sewn] at the top, it is [considered] attached; but at the bottom it is not [considered] attached.

[Concerning] clothing of poor people, although they do not measure three [fingerbreadths] by three [fingerbreadths], they [can become] tamei with midras [tumah]. [Regarding] a cloak that one began to tear, once a majority [of the cloak] is torn, [the torn parts] are no longer [considered to be] attached. Thick [cloths] and soft [cloths] are not subject to the law of three [fingerbreadths] by three [fingerbreadths].