I am going to have you do the sleeves in a rather unorthodox way. Instead of using a smaller circular needle, and then a set of double pointed needles, we are going to use two circular needles. I have recently started using this method for knitting in the round on any area that is too small for a circular needle. I think it is far easier than teaching you how to use double points over the net.

You will need a second 24" circular needle in the same size as the body needle. You will also need a second in the same size as the rib needle.

Let's get started.

The directions read:

Pick Up Sleeve Sts

With short, larger size circular needle

or dp needles, pick up   sleeve sts at

armhole edge, as follows:

[pick up 4 sts, skip 1 row] 4x

[pick up 5 sts, skip 1 row] 3x

to shoulder. From shoulder down

[pick up 5 sts, skip 1 row] 3x

[pick up 4 sts, skip 1 row] 4x

ending at underarm. Join.

This is not as difficult as it sounds.

Pick up your sweater body with the front neck facing you. We are going to start on the left side of the sweater facing you. 

Go to the underarm.

Find the edge stitch.

Now find the first row of complete stitches next to the edge stitch.

My first circular is black and my second circular is natural.

Insert the point of the first circular needle into the space between the two, and draw yarn through. This is called picking up a stitch.

One stitch picked up. Pick up one stitch in each of the next 3 rows. 4sts. Skip the next row. Pick up one stitch in each of the next 4 rows. Skip the next stitch. Pick up 4, Skip 1 two more times. 12 stitches on the needle. Continue by picking up 5 sts, skipping 1, 3 times. You have 31 stitches on the needle and are at the shoulder.

Take the second circular needle and pick up the stitches from the shoulder down to the underarm on the other side of the armhole. Pick up 5, skip 1 (3 times), Pick up 4, skip 1 (4 times).

62 total sleeve stitches. 

You are now back at the underarm.

On the second needle slide the stitches to the middle of the circular. Just let the circular hang.

Slide the stitches to the point of the first circular that is at the underarm.

Using the yarn attached to the last stitch on the second circular, knit the first stitch on the first circular with the other point of the same circular.

You have now joined the sleeve. This is the beginning of the round. From this point on, until we reach the ribbing you will knit exclusively. No purling!

Knit all the stitches on the first circular. You are now at the shoulder. Slide the stitches on the first circular to the center. 

Slide the stitches on the second circular to the needle point at the shoulder.

Using the second needle points, exclusively, knit from the shoulder to the underarm. 

One round complete.