Talmud for Menachot 81:21

ושוין שלא יביא אפילו אמה על אמה ממקום אחר ובה תכלת ותולה בה ושוין שמביא תכלת ממקום אחר ותולה בה

- It is different with those pious men for they imposed upon themselves additional obligations. His view<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 246, n. 8.');">¹³</span> is at variance with the angel's view. For an angel once found R'Kattina wearing a linen wrap,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which was without fringes, since it was mainly used as a night wrap.');">¹⁴</span> and he exclaimed, 'Kattina, Kattina, a wrap in summer and a cloak<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A garment with rounded corners and so not subject to the law of zizith.');">¹⁵</span> in winter, and what is to happen to the law of zizith? ' 'And do you punish', asked R'Kattina, 'a person [who omits to perform] a positive precept? ' 'In a time of wrath', replied the angel, 'we do'. Now if you hold that the law of zizith is a obligation incumbent upon the person then that is why one would incur guilt for not wearing a garment with fringes; but if you hold that it is an obligation attaching to the garment, then why [is any guilt incurred seeing that these garments are exempt? What then do you hold? That it is an obligation incumbent upon the person? I grant you that the All - Merciful would punish one who wears [without fringes] a garment that is subject to fringes, but would the All-Merciful punish one who wears [without fringes] a garment that is not subject to it? - This is what [the angel] implied, 'You find every excuse to free yourself from the law of zizith'. R'Tobi B'Kisna said in the name of Samuel, The garments put away in a chest are subject to zizith.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the obligation rests upon the garments, and as they are intended to be worn, they must be provided with fringes.');">¹⁶</span> Samuel, however, admits that where an old man made it for his shroud<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'for his honour'.');">¹⁷</span> it is exempt, for the Divine Law says, Wherewith thou coverest thyself,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXII, 12:');">¹⁸</span> and this is not intended for an ordinary covering. Nevertheless, when the time comes for its use we should insert fringes in it, on account of the injunction, Whoso mocketh the poor<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' There is none so poor as the dead. So that no indignity be shown to the dead the fringes are inserted in the shroud. V. Ber. 18a, and Tosaf. kct Nid. ');">¹⁹</span> blasphemeth his Maker.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. XVII, 5.');">²⁰</span> Rehabah said in the name of Rab Judah, If a garment was torn more than three [fingerbreadths' distance from the corner], it may be sewn up, but if [torn] within three [fingerbreadths' distance from the corner], it may not be sewn up.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' According to Rashi and R. Gershom the garment had as yet no fringes to it. Now if a piece had torn away within three fingerbreadths' distance from the corner (the area within which it is proper to insert the fringes, v. infra) , it may not be sewn together, for after the sewing a thread may be left hanging and, together with other threads, will be used for the fringe. But such a fringe is invalid since one of the threads was ready made and not inserted for the purpose of the fringe. According to R. Amram, Halakoth Gedoloth, and Nimmuke Joseph this garment had fringes to it but one corner with the fringe had torn off; now if the piece torn off was more than three fingerbreadths' distance on each side from the corner, i.e., the piece was three fingerbreadths square or more, it is still a garment and the fringe retains its character as a fringe, so that it may be sewn to the rest of the garment and the fringes are valid: If, however, the piece was less than three fingerbreadths square, it is no more a garment and the fringe is no more a fringe, consequently it may not be sewn to the rest of the garment so as to serve as a fringe, since the fringe had already lost its character as such.');">²¹</span> It has been taught [in a Baraitha] to the same effect, viz. , If a garment was torn more than three [fingerbreadths' distance from the corner], it may be sewn up, but if [torn] within three [fingerbreadths' distance from the corner], R'Meir says, It may not be sewn up; but the Sages say, It may be sewn up. And they are agreed that one may not fetch a piece of cloth, even a cubit square, which has fringes to it from another garment and tack it on to this garment.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the fringe would be ready made, and so invalid.');">²²</span> And they are also agreed that the fringes may be taken out of another garment and put into this garment,

Tractate Tzitzit