This puff sleeve knitting pattern is part of my collection of free sweater knitting patterns, and it’s designed to give you that polished, feminine look without overcomplicating the process.

If you’ve ever wanted to knit a top that feels a little extra special—but still totally wearable—this is exactly what you’re looking for. This puff sleeve knitting pattern walks you through creating a soft, structured tee with beautiful shaping that actually works. It solves that common problem of sleeves feeling boring or flat by giving them just the right amount of volume while keeping the fit clean and comfortable.

If you’ve ever felt like sweater sleeves are just… there, this changes that completely.
This puff sleeve knitting pattern gives you a way to add interest without making the project feel overwhelming.

It’s still simple. Still wearable. Just better.

What materials do you need for this puff sleeve knitting pattern?

For this puff sleeve knitting pattern, I used KnitPicks Vividie, and it really makes a difference in how the finished tee looks and feels. It’s labeled as worsted, but it knits up a bit lighter, which gives the fabric a nice drape while still holding the sleeve shape. That balance is exactly what you want for puff sleeves.

You’ll also need US 4 needles for ribbing and US 6 for the body, plus your usual basics like stitch markers and a yarn needle. Nothing complicated here—just solid, reliable tools that let the design do the work.

This combination creates a fabric that feels comfortable for everyday wear but still highlights the shaping details. It’s one of those setups that just works.

How does this puff sleeve knitting pattern come together?

This puff sleeve knitting pattern is worked flat from the bottom up, which keeps everything manageable and easy to follow. The front and back are knit separately, then seamed together for a clean, structured finish. If you’ve ever been nervous about seaming, this is a great project to practice on.

The real standout is the sleeve construction. Strategic increases build volume, while carefully placed decreases shape the sleeve cap so it fits smoothly into the armhole. You get that classic puff effect without bulk or awkward shaping.

It’s a set-in sleeve, so the final result looks tailored and polished. And once you see how it comes together, it’s surprisingly straightforward to repeat.

Looking for more free sweater knitting patterns like this?

If you’re loving this puff sleeve knitting pattern, there are so many other pieces you can explore next:

• adult puff sleeve tee
• child sarah tee
• youth deborah tee
• youth wheat cardigan
• youth september cardigan

Each one brings something a little different, whether it’s texture, lace, or simple everyday structure. They all fit right into a wardrobe that’s meant to be worn and enjoyed, not just admired.

This puff sleeve knitting pattern fits right in with those—easy to wear, fun to knit, and full of small details that make a big impact. It’s one of those projects you’ll come back to again and again.

Child Puff Sleeve Tee Pattern

MATERIALS AND INFO

Size: 0-3m, 3-6m (6-12m, 12m) 18m, 24m (3/4y, 5/6y) 7/8y, 9/10y (11/12y, 13/14yrs)

Materials: Approximately 2, 2 (2, 3) 3, 3 (3, 4) 5, 5 (6, 7) balls of KnitPick Vividie 190y/100g (affiliate link) yarn needle, stitch markers

Needle Size: 6(US) 4mm circular needles and dpn, 4(US) 3.5mm circular and dpn

Gauge (tension): 22sts & 32 rows to make 10cm square, using size 6(US) 4mm needles working in stockinette stitch

Chest Measurement: 41, 44 (47, 50), 52, 54 (57, 61) 66, 72 (78, 84) cm or 16, 17.25 (18.5, 19.5) 20.5, 21 (22.5,24) 26, 28.25 (30.75, 33) ins

METHOD

Puff Sleeve Tee is bottom-up set in sleeve pullover in an easy-care yarn. It is worked flat. Created for our 7th child. She wanted something fun and girly for summer.

Abbreviations can be found on the last page.

Note: choose size based on chest measurement for best fit. Measurements above are measurement of the person not sweater measurements.

1X1 RIB PATTERN

Row 1 (right side row) – (k1, p1) across

Row 2 – knit all the knit stitches, purl all the purl stitches.

BACK

Cast on using smaller circular needle: 58, 62 (64, 68) 70, 72 (76, 80) 86, 92 (98, 106) sts.

Work in 1×1 ribbing for 4cms or 1.5ins.

Switch to larger needles.

Work in pattern until piece measures 14, 15 (17.5, 19.5) 21, 22.5 (24, 27) 30, 32 (35, 37.5) cm or 5.5, 6 (7, 7.75) 8.5, 9 (9.5, 10.75) 12, 13 (14, 15) measuring from cast on.

SHAPE BACK ARMHOLES

Cast off 4, 4 (4, 4) 4, 4 (4, 4) 5, 5 (5, 6) stitches at beginning of next 2 rows. 50, 54 (56, 60) 62, 64 (68, 72) 76, 82 (88, 94) sts

Decrease 1 st at each end of following 1, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (3, 2) rows. 48, 50 (52, 56) 58, 60 (64, 68) 72, 78 (82, 90) sts

Then decrease 1 st each end of every right-side row 1, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 2) times 44, 46 (48, 52) 54, 56 (60, 64) 68, 74 (78, 86) sts

Continue without shaping until work measures 23, 25 (27.5, 30.5) 32.5, 34.5 (37.5, 41) 45, 49 (52.5, 57) cms or 9.25, 10 (11, 12.25) 13, 13.75 (15, 16.5) 18, 19.5 (21, 23) ins

SHAPE BACK SHOULDERS

5/6yrs – 13/14yrs sizes only

Bind off x, x (x, x) x, x (x, 4) 4, 5 (5, 6) sts at beginning of the next 2 rows.

All Sizes

Bind off 0, 0 (4, 4) 5, 5 (5, 4) 4, 5 (5, 6) sts at beginning of row, k10, 10 (6, 7) 7, 7 (8, 6) 7, 7 (8, 8) [10, 10 (7, 8) 8, 8 (9, 7) 8, 8 (9, 9) sts on right needle].

Put remaining sts on stitch holder.

Turn, bind off 3sts, work to end of row.

Turn, bind off remaining 7, 7 (4, 5) 5, 5 (6, 4) 5, 5 (6, 6) sts

With right side facing, rejoin yarn to stitches on hold, bind off 24, 26 (26, 28) 28, 30 (32, 34) 36, 38 (40, 42) knit remaining 10, 10 (11, 12) 13, 13 (14, 13) 12, 13 (14, 16) sts.

Turn, bind off 0, 0 (4, 4) 5, 5 (5, 4) 4, 5 (5, 6) sts work to end of row

Turn, bind off 3sts

Turn, bind off 7, 7 (4, 5) 5, 5 (6, 4) 5, 5 (6, 6) sts

FRONT

Cast on using smaller circular needle: 58, 62 (64, 68) 70, 72 (76, 80) 86, 92 (98, 106) sts.

Work in 1×1 ribbing for 4cms or 1.5ins.

Switch to larger needles.

Work in pattern until piece measures 14, 15 (17.5, 19.5) 21, 22.5 (24, 27) 30, 32 (35, 37.5) cm or 5.5, 6 (7, 7.75) 8.5, 9 (9.5, 10.75) 12, 13 (14, 15) measuring from cast on.

SHAPE FRONT ARMHOLES

Cast off 4, 4 (4, 4) 4, 4 (4, 4) 5, 5 (5, 6) stitches at beginning of next 2 rows. 50, 54 (56, 60) 62, 64 (68, 72) 76, 82 (88, 94) sts

Decrease 1 st at each end of following 1, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (3, 2) rows. 48, 50 (52, 56) 58, 60 (64, 68) 72, 78 (82, 90) sts

Then decrease 1 st each end of every right-side row 1, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 2) times 44, 46 (48, 52) 54, 56 (60, 64) 68, 74 (78, 86) sts

Continue in Stockinette st until you have worked 18, 19.5 (22.5, 25) 27, 29 (31.5, 35.5) 39, 42.5 (46.5, 50) cms or 7.25, 7.75 (9, 10) 10.75, 11.5 (12.5, 14.25) 15.5, 17 (18.5, 20) ins

LEFT FRONT NECK SHAPING

Work 11, 12 (13, 14) 15, 15 (19, 20) 21, 24 (25, 28) sts, put remaining sts on holder, turn.

Decrease 1 st at neck edge of next 2, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (5, 5) 5, 5 (5, 6) rows.

Then decrease 1 st at neck edge of each right-side row 1, 1 (2, 2) 2, 2 (3, 2) 3, 3 (4, 4) times.

7, 7 (8, 9) 10, 10 (11, 12) 13, 15 (16, 18) sts remain.

Continue without shaping until work measures 23, 25 (27.5, 30.5) 32.5, 34.5 (37.5, 41) 45, 49 (52.5, 57) cms or 9.25, 10 (11, 12.25) 13, 13.75 (15, 16.5) 18, 19.5 (21, 23) ins

LEFT FRONT SHOULDER SHAPING

6-12m – 13/14y Sizes only

Starting on a right-side row, bind off x, x (4, 4) 5, 5 (5, 4) 4, 5 (5, 6) sts, work across remains sts, turn.

Work 1 row with no decreases, turn.

9/10yrs – 13/14yrs sizes only

bind off x, x (x, x) x, x (x, x) x, 5 (5, 6) sts, work across remains sts, turn.

Work 1 row with no decreases, turn.

All sizes

Bind off remaining 7, 7 (4, 5) 5, 5 (6, 4) 5, 5 (6, 6) sts.

RIGHT FRONT NECK SHAPING

Rejoin yarn to work on stitch holder and bind off 22, 22 (22, 24) 24, 26 (22, 24) 26, 26 (28, 28) sts

Work to the end of the row.

Decrease 1 st at neck edge of next 2, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (5, 5) 5, 5 (5, 6) rows.

Then decrease 1 st at neck edge of each right-side row 1, 1 (2, 2) 2, 2 (3, 2) 3, 3 (4, 4) times.

7, 7 (8, 9) 10, 10 (11, 12) 13, 15 (16, 18) sts remain.

Continue without shaping until work measures 23, 25 (27.5, 30.5) 32.5, 34.5 (37.5, 41) 45, 49 (52.5, 57) cms or 9.25, 10 (11, 12.25) 13, 13.75 (15, 16.5) 18, 19.5 (21, 23) ins

RIGHT FRONT SHOULDER SHAPING

6-12m – 13/14y Sizes only

Starting on a wrong-side row, bind off x, x (4, 4) 5, 5 (5, 4) 4, 5 (5, 6) sts, work across remains sts, turn.

Work 1 row with no decreases, turn.

9/10yrs – 13/14yrs sizes only

bind off x, x (x, x) x, x (x, x) x, 5 (5, 6) sts, work across remains sts, turn.

Work 1 row with no decreases, turn.

All sizes

Bind off remaining 7, 7 (4, 5) 5, 5 (6, 4) 5, 5 (6, 6) sts.

SLEEVES (MAKE 2)

With smaller needles, cast on 28, 30 (32, 34) 36, 36 (38, 42) 44, 48 (50, 54) sts.

Work for 2.5cms or 1ins in 1×1 ribbing.

Change to larger needles and begin working in stockinette stitch (knit every right side row, purl every wrong side row).

SLEEVE SHAPING TO UNDERARM

Increase Row – k1, kfb across to last sts, k1

54, 58 (64, 66) 70, 70 (74, 82) 86, 94 (98, 106) sts

Work 5, 5 (7, 9) 11, 11 (13, 17) 17, 19 (21, 23) rows in stockinette st.

SLEEVE HEAD

Bind off 4, 4 (4, 4) 4, 4 (4, 4) 5, 5 (5, 6) sts of beginning of next 2 rows.

Decrease 1 st at each end of next 1, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 4) 4, 6 (6, 6) rows.

Then every right-side row 2, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 1) 2, 2 (3, 4) times.

Then every other right-side row 0, 1 (0, 1) 1, 1 (1, 1) 2, 2 (2, 2) times.

Then every right-side row 1, 1 (2, 1) 1, 1 (2, 1) 2, 4 (4, 4) times.

Then decrease on the following 3, 2 (4, 4) 6, 6 (7, 11) 5, 9 (9, 9) rows.

Next row – k2tog across (if on a wrong side row p2tog across)

Bind off remaining 16, 17 (18, 18) 19, 19 (19, 21) 22, 20 (20, 22) sts.

NECKBAND

Sew shoulder seams.

Pick up and knit 12, 12 (14, 14) 14, 16 (16, 16) 17, 19 (19, 19) sts down left front, 22, 22 (22, 24) 24, 26 (22, 24) 26, 26 (28, 28) sts across neck,

12, 12 (14, 14) 14, 16 (16, 16) 17, 19 (19, 19) sts up right front,

30, 32 (32, 34) 34, 36 (38, 40) 42, 44 (46, 48) sts around back.

Join in the round. 76, 78 (82, 86) 86, 94 (92, 96) 102, 108 (112, 114) sts

Neck rounds – work in k1p1 ribbing around

Continue repeating rounds until the neck measures 2.5cms or 1 ins.

Bind off in pattern.

FINISHING

Sew remaining seams, weave in all ends and block as desired.

ABBREVIATIONS

K – knit                                                    

P – purl

PM – place marker                                  

SM – slip marker

K2tog – knit 2 stitches together 

P2tog – purl 2 stitches together               

SSK – slip, slip, knit the slipped sts together

M1L – With left needle pick up strand between 2 stitches front to back. Knit through back loop

M1R – With left needle pick up strand between 2 stitches back to front. Knit through front loop

KFB – knit into the front and back of the next sts

If you try this puff sleeve knitting pattern, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you. Let me know what size you made, what yarn you used, or if you added your own twist—I always enjoy seeing how these projects come to life in different ways.

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