Tutorial: How to Make Puff Sleeves
If you’d like a little extra puff in your sleeve, it just takes a few extra minutes and steps to make it happen.
This tutorial uses the lovely free Eva pattern from Fabrics-Store with the 3/4 sleeve option with an extended hem.
Let’s jump in!
Steps
1. Make a copy of the sleeve pattern out of paper or fabric. Gift wrap tissue paper or package paper works great for this if you have some on hand.
2. Make a series of cuts every 1” (2.5 cm) along the pattern copy. Instead of cutting all the way through, leave a short space intact at the bottom to hold the pattern together.
3. Lay the sliced pattern on the fabric. Pin the bottom of the sleeve in place to keep it level. Then pin each slice in place. The more you space out each section, the more puff you’ll get in the sleeve.
4. Cut out the new sleeve shape. For this shirt I also extended the bottom of the sleeve for a wider hem.
It can be a bit tricky to decide where the new cut line should be along the top. Don’t stress it. Just do your best guess. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Don’t be afraid of adding too much width to the sleeve. You can see how much larger the new sleeve is than the original pattern, but it doesn’t add too much puff.
5. To gather the sleeve into the puff, sew two lines of loose stitching within the recommended pattern seam allowance.
6. Pull the bobbin threads to gather the sleeve until the length is the same as the original pattern piece. Distribute the gathers evenly along the cap of the sleeve.
7. Carefully clip the sleeve to the armscye of the shirt and continue with regular pattern instructions.
Related posts
Sewing Essentials: A Guide to Sewing Scissors
Just like you’d use a bread knife for bread or a pizza cutter for pizza, sewing scissors are designed for different materials and tasks. From dressmaking shears and embroidery scissors to snips, pinking shears, and thread clippers, each one has its place in your sewing toolkit. There are plenty of brands to choose from too—Prym,…
An Introduction to Common Crotch Adjustments
Recently, I drafted a pattern and made a toile of a pair of drop-crotch pants. When I tried them on, I straight away noticed (and felt) they weren’t quite right. The most obvious issue was that the back crotch felt tight and pulled uncomfortably, especially when bending over. Walking also felt a little restricted, with…
How to Thread a Sewing Machine: A Beginners Guide – Part 2
Now that we’ve covered the basics of threading a sewing machine in Part 1, let’s move on to some additional functions. In Part 2, I’ll show you how to change both the needle and the presser foot. I’ll also introduce the twin needle, and share some helpful troubleshooting tips for common issues that can happen when…
How to Thread a Sewing Machine: A Beginners Guide – Part 1
Threading a sewing machine can feel a bit daunting at first, but it quickly becomes second nature after you’ve done it a couple of times. These days, I don’t even think about it—muscle memory just takes over. That said, writing this tutorial made me slow down and walk through each step more deliberately. It reminded…
How to Make Pattern Adjustments for Small Busts
I’m a small-bust lady, so this tutorial is near and dear to me. One of my daughters is also in the small-bust group, while the other has a fuller bust, so our household has experienced the challenges—and blessings—of both! We’ve often talked about shopping for clothes and customizing sewing for each body type. The friend…
SEW THIS LOOK
LATEST COMMENTS
- Caring for Linen: How to Wash, Dry, Iron and Remove Stains
10 Sep 2020 @ 1:00 am by Lviefent Rust Zip Mini Dress Review: Casual Comfort & Style Explored - How to Pre-Wash Fabric: A Simple Guide
03 Nov 2024 @ 9:37 am by How to Make a Cloth Doll | Easy Steps (2025) - Sewing Essentials: Sewing Tools
08 Jan 2025 @ 9:37 am by Sewing Tools That Simplify Stitching: 10 Clever Finds for Every Sewist - Hubert de Givenchy: Parisian Chic
23 Jan 2020 @ 3:25 am by The Timeless Style of Hubert de Givenchy: From Audrey Hepburn to Global Icon - The Pulse of the Fashion - Understanding Seam Allowance: A Simple Guide
22 Apr 2025 @ 3:05 am by How to Design a Sleeve Pattern | Fit-First Method























Leave a comment