After watching the bubble sleeves bloom into shape, today we move into the next exciting stage of the Bubble Sleeve Shrug: the cuff-to-cuff construction. This is where the project truly begins to feel like a wearable garment. I love this section of the pattern because it is rhythmic, mindful, and incredibly satisfying, especially with UNIVERSAL YARN Bella Bounce gliding through my fingers in a soft ripple effect in the Shortcake colorway.
UY Bella Bounce is so bouncy soft! I chose the Shortcake colorway
Here’s an up-close view of the Bella Bounce yarn on a dark surface. You can see how furry the yarn is!
A close-up of Bella Bounce yarn
From Circular to Flat: The Transition to the Back Panel
Once the right sleeve is complete and the bubbles have taken their gorgeous shape, the pattern leads you into an interesting transition. You set aside the round knitting, remove your marker, and begin working flat to create the back panel of the shrug.
This shift from circular knitting to flat knitting is seamless and intuitive. The back is worked in simple stockinette, framed with garter stitch edges that keep the fabric flat and polished. After all the lively shaping in the sleeves, this section feels wonderfully soothing. It’s the perfect stretch of knitting for evenings when you want to relax, no counting, no changing needle size.
Why Cuff to Cuff Construction Works So Beautifully
One of the smartest features of this pattern is its built-in symmetry. By knitting from one cuff across the back and out to the second cuff, you guarantee:
- perfectly matching sleeves
- mirrored increases and decreases
- consistent bubble shaping
Everything flows from a single cast-on edge, making the shrug feel cohesive as it grows. You can see the structure forming in your hands, which is one of my favorite parts of garment knitting.
The Comfort of Knitting with Bella Bounce
This middle section of the shrug lets you truly appreciate Bella Bounce’s personality. The yarn feels lightweight yet substantial in your hands, creating a fabric that is both cozy and breathable. As I knit across the back panel, I noticed:
- how smoothly the stitches glide in a soft ripple effect
- how springy the fabric feels
- how evenly the stockinette settles with almost no effort
It’s comfort knitting at its best, the kind of knitting you can sink into as the piece grows quietly row by row.
The Shrug Takes Shape
Before long, the back panel is complete, and we’re ready to transition back to the left sleeve, working in the round. The marker is placed for the beginning of the round, ready to knit in the round for the second sleeve.
The marker is placed, ready to knit in the round for the second sleeve.
One of my favorite things is knitting in the evening while watching a series of some kind, or should I say listening…how about you? Oh, and… also… on my lap is a knitted blanket my grandmother made for my mom decades ago.
Knitting in the evenings is one of my favorite things.
In the next post, we’ll move into finishing, blocking, and unveiling the completed Bubble Sleeve Shrug. If you love seeing a garment come together, you’ll enjoy this final stretch.
Until then, happy stitching, the second half of our shrug is just around the corner!
UY Bella Bounce + The Mindful Collection Stainless Steel = blissful knitting
This is part 4 of 5 in this series
Go back to part 3: Creating texture with knitting needle changes: the Bubble Sleeves take shape
