Sewing patches, is there a trick to it?

TinyPinkBug

I have to sew three patches onto Tyler's Karate uniform.  While I posess the knowledge to do basic sewing, I am not skilled at it.  Everytime I have sewn patches in the past, they look terrible.  Is there a trick to it?  Two go on the sleeves, that is where mine always look the worst!  His Sensei said most people take them to a tailor to have them sewn on.  I don't want to pay $15 to have someone sew on patches after the small fortune I just paid for the uniform!