how to narrow sleeves on finished project

The pattern is Biscotti by Berroco.

I wanted to make the sleeves longer than the pattern indicated, so I just kept up with the ongoing pattern until I achieved the length I desired. The problem is that the sleeves are way too wide, and look a bit ridiculous. I tried sewing some elastic thread into the edge of the sleeves to create a puffy sleeve, but that looked even worse. Any suggestions other than unraveling the sleeves and reknitting them with decreases? Even then, I don’t know where, when, and how many decreases would make the piece look good.

I appreciate any suggestions!

What a cool, summery top! It looks very nicely done.
Do you like the length of the sleeves, just want them to narrow? You will probably have to re-knit them.
One way to design the sleeve is to trace the outline of the sleeve as it is now, then draw in the outline you would like. You can measure the desired end width and convert the measurement to stitch number knowing your stitch gauge. Then knowing the stitches you start with and the number you want to end with, determine how many sts to decrease and how frequently you will need to decrease.
If you have a similar short sleeve that has the width you like you can use that as a template for the width measurement.

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Thanks, as always, for your prompt and very knowledgeable response!

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I know you mentioned you felt that the sleeves are too wide, but just brainstorming – what happens if you fold back a cuff? I know this would make them a bit shorter, but you never know!

Otherwise salmonmac has great advice, as usual.

What a nice pattern and pretty colourway too.

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Just a totally different idea.
You said elastic didn’t look good. What if you made a band of rib in the width/tightness you wanted then gather the sleeve cuff when sewing in, like a mini balloon sleeve? Gathering can be done on a thread which is threaded through the knitted fabric to the desired width, then sewn in place, or you can pin/tack in half, quater and fit the fabric stitches into the rib when sewing on.

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That’s a very good and easy to do suggestion. Thank you!

I love your idea, but while I think of myself as a pretty competent knitter, I am a very unskilled seamstress! I may still give it a try. Thanks so much for your thoughtful response!

There may be a way to gather with a thread to make the desired size and to put the gathers where you want them (personally I’d try gatheing at the top, shoulder, and leaving smooth under arm, but that’s me) and then to pick up and knit in such a way that the gathers are kept in. I am jot sure if this is possible, I feel it is, I think someone had a puff sleeve on here which was made kind if like this. The first part is not sewing as such it’s just threading through the knit stitches of the last row thenmoulling both ends to gather the fabric, then weave in.
I’m awful at sewing hut I manage to seam knittig because I can identify exactly where the holes are and I’m ot left to make it up.

Well, it’s just a thought.

Thank you so much for the excellent suggestion! I’ll give it a try.

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