How to create a pattern for a puffed sleeve, starting with a standard sleeve.

The pattern for a puff sleeve is very simple to design. The idea is to "stretch" the pattern of a basic sleeve at the points where we want the gathering of our puff sleeve to form.

The 'stretching' of the model can be done at head height or at the hem of the sleeve, but never in the armpit area.

We can therefore identify 3 main types of puff sleeve, distinguishing them according to where the gathers are placed.          

Puff sleeve pattern with gathers at the head

- Starting from the pattern of our basic sleeve, we take the middle third calculated by dividing the lower edge into 3.

- We divide the middle third into strips of 2-3 cm (0.8"-1.2") each.

- We cut the strips and fan out the sleeve on the upper side.

- We draw the new pattern.

- With a basting we create the gathering of the puff.        

Puff sleeve pattern with gathering at the hem

- Starting from the pattern of our basic sleeve, we take the middle third calculated by dividing the lower edge into 3.

- We divide the middle third into strips of 2-3 cm (0.8"-1.2") each.

- We cut the strips and fan out the sleeve on the underside.

- We draw the new pattern.

- With a basting we create the gathering of the puff.            

Puff sleeve pattern with gathers at head and hem

- Starting from the pattern of our basic sleeve, we take the middle third calculated by dividing the lower edge into 3.

- We divide the middle third into strips of 2-3 cm (0.8"-1.2") each.

- We cut the strips completely and we space them 2 cm (0.8") apart.

- We draw the new pattern.

- We create the two gathers by basting.