This puff sleeve knitting pattern is part of my growing collection of free sweater knitting patterns, designed to give you something fun, wearable, and actually doable.
If you’ve been wanting a lightweight tee with a little personality—but without complicated construction—this post walks you through exactly that. The Adult Puff Sleeve Tee blends simple stitches with thoughtful shaping so you get that soft puff sleeve look without stress. It’s the kind of project that feels fresh on your needles and even better in your closet.
If you love knits that look styled without trying too hard, this one fits right in. This puff sleeve knitting pattern gives you just enough detail to keep things interesting while still being relaxing to work through.
It’s light, it’s flattering, and it’s easy to customize depending on how you like your tees to fit. And yes—the free pattern is waiting for you at the bottom.
What materials work best for this puff sleeve knitting pattern?
For this puff sleeve knitting pattern, I used KnitPicks Vividie yarn, and it really makes a difference in how the finished tee feels. It’s soft, breathable, and holds its shape beautifully without that annoying splitting you sometimes get with cotton blends.
You’ll also need size 4 and size 6 needles to create that balance between structured ribbing and a lighter, airy body. The smaller needle keeps the edges neat, while the larger needle helps the fabric drape nicely.
This combination keeps the tee comfortable enough for everyday wear while still looking polished.
Everything about this setup is meant to keep things simple while still giving you a finished piece that feels high quality. It’s a really satisfying combination.
How is this puff sleeve knitting pattern constructed?
This puff sleeve knitting pattern is worked flat from the bottom up, which keeps everything straightforward and easy to manage. If you prefer working in rows and like seeing your progress build piece by piece, you’ll enjoy this method.
The sleeves are worked separately and then set in, which is what gives them that defined puff shape. The increases and decreases are placed carefully so the sleeve has structure without looking oversized.
Seaming is done with mattress stitch, which keeps everything looking clean and smooth on the outside.
Once everything comes together, the shaping really stands out in the best way. It’s one of those builds that just makes sense as you go.
Looking for more free sweater knitting patterns like this?
If you’re loving this puff sleeve knitting pattern, there are a few more you’ll want to check out next:
• Child Puff Sleeve Tee
• Deborah Tee
• Chain Tee
• Sarah Tee
• September Cardigan
Each one brings a slightly different style, but they all stick to the same idea—simple construction with a finished look that feels put together. They’re great options if you want to keep your needles busy without overthinking your next project.
This puff sleeve knitting pattern fits right into that lineup. It’s playful without being over the top, and it works just as well dressed up as it does for everyday wear.
Adult Puff Sleeve Tee Pattern
MATERIALS AND INFO
Size: XS, S (M, L) XL, 2X (3X, 4X)
Materials: Approximately 6, 6 (7, 7) 8, 9 (10, 11) 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 of person: 75, 85 (95, 105) 115, 125 (135, 145) cm or 30, 34 (38, 42) 46, 50 (54, 58) 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. Once I saw it on her I wanted one for me!!!
Abbreviations can be found on the last page.
Note: choose size based on bust measurement for best fit
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: 96, 102 (112, 124) 134, 146 (156, 168) sts.
Work in 1×1 ribbing for 4cms or 1.5ins.
Switch to larger needles.
Work in stockinette st until your work measures 35, 35 (35, 35) 35, 34.5 (34.5, 34) cms or 14, 14 (14, 14) 14, 13.75 (13.75, 13.5) ins from cast on edge or to your desired length.
SHAPE BACK ARMHOLES
Cast off 6, 6 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) stitches at beginning of next 2 rows. 78, 90 (100, 112) 122, 134 (144, 156) sts
Decrease 1 st at each end of following 2, 5 (7, 11) 11, 14 (17, 20) rows. 74, 80 (86, 90) 100, 106 (110, 116) sts
Then decrease 1 st each end of every other row 2, 2 (3, 4) 4, 6 (6, 7) times 70, 76 (80, 82) 92, 94 (98, 102) sts
Then decrease 1 st each end of every 4th row 1, 1 (1, 1) 1, 1 (2, 2)
68, 74 (78, 80) 90, 92 (94, 98) sts
Continue without shaping until work measures 53.5, 54 (54, 55) 55.5, 56.5 (57.5, 58) cms or 21.5, 21.75 (21.75, 22) 22.25, 22.5 (23, 23.25) ins
SHAPE BACK SHOULDERS
Bind off 4, 4 (5, 5) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts at beginning of the next 2 rows.
Bind off 4, 4 (5, 5) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts at beginning of row, k6, 8 (7, 7) 9, 9 (9, 10) [7, 9 (8, 8) 10, 10 (10, 11) sts on right needle].
Put remaining sts on stitch holder.
Turn, bind off 3sts, work to end of row.
Turn, bind off remaining 4, 6 (5, 5) 7, 7 (7, 8) sts
With right side facing, rejoin yarn to stitches on hold, bind off 38, 40 (42, 44) 46, 48 (50, 52) knit remaining 11, 13 (13, 13) 16, 16 (16, 17) sts.
Turn, bind off 4, 4 (5, 5) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts work to end of row
Turn, bind off 3sts
Turn, bind off 4, 6 (5, 5) 7, 7 (7, 8) sts
FRONT
Cast on using smaller circular needle: 96, 102 (112, 124) 134, 146 (156, 168) sts.
Work in 1×1 ribbing for 4cms or 1.5ins.
Switch to larger needles.
Work in stockinette st until your work measures 35, 35 (35, 35) 35, 34.5 (34.5, 34) cms or 14, 14 (14, 14) 14, 13.75 (13.75, 13.5) ins from cast on edge or to your desired length.
Work in stockinette st until your work measures 35, 35 (35, 35) 35, 34.5 (34.5, 34) 34, 34 cms or 14, 14 (14, 14) 14, 13.75 (13.75, 13.5) 13.5, 13.5 ins from cast on edge.
SHAPE FRONT ARMHOLES
Cast off 6, 6 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) stitches at beginning of next 2 rows. 78, 90 (100, 112) 122, 134 (144, 156) sts
Decrease 1 st at each end of following 2, 5 (7, 11) 11, 14 (17, 20) rows. 74, 80 (86, 90) 100, 106 (110, 116) sts
Then decrease 1 st each end of every other row 2, 2 (3, 4) 4, 6 (6, 7) times 70, 76 (80, 82) 92, 94 (98, 102) sts
Then decrease 1 st each end of every 4th row 1, 1 (1, 1) 1, 1 (2, 2)
68, 74 (78, 80) 90, 92 (94, 98) sts
Continue in Stockinette st until you have worked 47, 47.5 (47.5, 48) 48.5, 49 (49, 49.5) 49.5, 50 cms or 18.75, 19 (19, 19.25) 19.5, 19.75 (19.75, 20) 20, 20 ins
LEFT FRONT NECK SHAPING
Work 21, 23 (25, 25) 29, 30 (30, 32) sts, put remaining sts on holder, turn.
Decrease 1 st at neck edge of next 5, 5 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 7) rows.
Then decrease 1 st at neck edge of every other row 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) times.
Then decrease 1 st at neck edge of every 4th row 1, 1 (1, 1) 1, 2 (2, 2)
12, 14 (15, 15) 19, 19 (19, 20) sts remain.
Continue without shaping until work measures 53.5, 54 (54, 55) 55.5, 56.5 (57.5, 58) cms or 21.5, 21.75 (21.75, 22) 22.25, 22.5 (23, 23.25) ins
LEFT FRONT SHOULDER SHAPING
Starting on a right-side row, bind off 4, 4 (5, 5) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts, work across remains sts, turn.
Work 1 row with no decreases, turn.
Bind off 4, 4 (5, 5) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts, work across remains sts, turn.
Work 1 row with no decreases, turn.
Bind off remaining 4, 6 (5, 5) 7, 7 (7, 8) sts.
RIGHT FRONT NECK SHAPING
Rejoin yarn to work on stitch holder and bind off 26, 28 (28, 30) 32, 34 (34, 34) sts
Decrease 1 st at neck edge of next 5, 5 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 7) rows.
Then decrease 1 st at neck edge of every other row 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) times.
Then decrease 1 st at neck edge of every 4th row 1, 1 (1, 1) 1, 2 (2, 2)
12, 14 (15, 15) 19, 19 (19, 20) sts remain.
Continue without shaping until work measures 53.5, 54 (54, 55) 55.5, 56.5 (57.5, 58) cms or 21.5, 21.75 (21.75, 22) 22.25, 22.5 (23, 23.25) ins
RIGHT FRONT SHOULDER SHAPING
Starting on a wrong-side row, bind off 4, 4 (5, 5) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts, work across remains sts, turn.
Work 1 row with no decreases, turn.
Bind off 4, 4 (5, 5) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts, work across remains sts, turn.
Work 1 row with no decreases, turn.
Bind off remaining 4, 6 (5, 5) 7, 7 (7, 8) sts.
SLEEVES (MAKE 2)
With smaller needles, cast on 50, 50 (52, 56) 62, 68 (74, 82) 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
98, 98 (102, 110) 122, 134 (146, 162) sts
Work 27, 27 (29, 31) 31, 31 (33, 33) rows in stockinette st.
SLEEVE HEAD
Bind off 6, 6 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts of beginning of next 2 rows.
Decrease 1 st at each end of next 6, 6 (6, 6) 8, 10 (13, 18) rows.
Then every right-side row 5, 5 (5, 5) 5, 6 (4, 3) times.
Then every other right-side row 1, 1 (1, 1) 1, 1 (0, 1) times.
Work in stockinette without decreasing for 0, 2 (4, 0) 0, 0 (1, 1) rows.
Then every right-side row 4, 4 (5, 5) 5, 5 (4, 2) times.
Then decrease on the following 7, 7 (7, 8) 10, 10 (14, 16) rows.
Next row – k2tog across (if you end on a purl row than you with p2tog across)
Bind off remaining 20, 20 (22, 24) 26, 28 (32, 34) sts.
NECKBAND
Sew shoulder seams.
Pick up and knit 19, 19 (20, 20) 22, 22 (24, 25) sts down left front,
26, 28 (28, 30) 32, 32 (34, 34) sts across neck,
19, 19 (20, 20) 22, 22 (24, 25) sts up right front,
44, 46 (48, 50) 52, 54 (56, 58) sts around back.
Join in the round. 108, 112 (116, 120) 128, 130 (139, 142) 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 sleeve on to body and remaining side seams (I like to use a mattress stitch which you can find a tutorial for here), weave in all ends and block as desired.
ABBREVIATIONS
K – knit
P – purl
PM – place marker
SM – slip marker
K2tog -knit 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 this feels like your kind of project, scroll down and grab the free pattern. And when you make one, I want to hear about it—what color did you choose? Tell me in the comments so we can all get inspired by each other.
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