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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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A look back at 2015 & what’s in store for 2016

January 5, 2016 2 Comments

Get a free knitting pattern for an Outlander-inspired shawl, the Outlander Chevron Shawl from Hands Occupied

Last year began with me sharing some plans & goals for 2015, which was something I was new to sharing as a blogger. Much like looking back at the top posts of last year, I enjoyed reading through last year’s post and taking stock of what I improved on, and making note of what mayyyyybe totally fell through the cracks a bit. Let’s start 2016 on the same self-aware footing by taking a look back how I did with my 2015 goals, and then we can look at the year ahead and what I’ve got in store for all you yarn lovers!

Looking back at my 2015 plans & goals

For context on all of this, visit last year’s goals post.

After experimenting with veganism (which is really hard, even for someone who hasn’t eaten meat in several years, let me tell you!), switching to cloth napkins and handkerchiefs, and using home cleaning products with primarily natural ingredients, I think it’s safe to say I made great strides with being a more thoughtful consumer. No, I didn’t find success with my vegan eating, but I think if I continue on this thoughtful track of consumerism, I can make up for my inability to give dairy the boot. I did manage to cut my egg consumption down to the very occasional baked good or sandwich. I also fully gave up coffee for tea, so that went as planned. Yay!

Unfortunately, I didn’t do very well at being more focused at all. I was sick regularly throughout the fall, by Christmas I’d begun averaging 4 hours of sleep a night, and it was clear I’d taken way too much on. There’s totally something to be said for work/life balance, and as you’ll see in my new goals for 2016, working on focus and balance is a priority for me.

Knitting on the beach in Freeport, Bahamas

knitting on the beach in the Bahamas – such a dream!

The days when I got the least sleep and was the most stressed tended to be when I was fulfilling my goal to visit family more, travel more. My husband and I got a killer Groupon for a trip to the Bahamas this fall, we did some super fun weekend trips around Illinois, and even celebrated the end of summer by going to Denver for a long weekend. The Denver trip was when we got to meet some dang yaks, which was completely epic. I want to visit the Bijou Basin Ranch again right now – it was so amazing! PS: I highly recommend Colorado to anyone wanting to geek out about yarn. There’s so much great indie fiber stuff going on there! We also made it to see family in the four separate states they live in, so this goal was a success!

Heidi Gustad at Stitches Midwest 2015 in the Bijou Basin Ranch booth.

Me sitting next to a poster of myself at the Bijou Basin Ranch Stitches Midwest booth. Weird.

Workflow-wise, attempting to cowork made me realize a few things. One, I’m not good at staying focused when others are around. Two, I’m a much bigger introvert than I realized. Before coworking, I’d completely taken for granted the fact that the days I don’t work at the library are days I value and kind of need. Alone time is my BFF, and my productivity BFF.

Speaking of productivity, designing more and expanding were NOT a problem for me last year. Opening an independent pattern shop, check.  I actually think I hit capacity and then some on design work a couple times, so I’ll have to be more thoughtful about what sort of work and partnerships I tackle this year. That whole life balance thing again – are you sensing the theme here?

So, a book. I realized about 1/3 of the way through 2015 that I wasn’t ready to pursue that monster project. I wanted to become a more seasoned designer, so I reached out to my agent to let her know to I was putting a pin in that dream for awhile. Right now though, I’m feeling good about bringing this project back to the front burner in 2016, so stay tuned.

Last January’s Knewbies series helped me with my goal to do more videos. I also became the host for the AllFreeKnitting YouTube channel, two designer friends and I launched a YouTube knitting show called YarnTalk, and I started hosting knitting and crochet videos for Blitsy.

Heidi Gustad hosting videos in the AllFreeKnitting studio.

A look behind the AllFreeKnitting studios’ camera

After much thought about updating my tagline, I remembered the idea of KISS: keep it simple, stupid. So I’ve been using, “Knitting, crochet and yarn crafts.” as the new tagline for Hands Occupied since last winter. Easy peasy, fills my needsy, to coin a solopreneuer phrase. :)

I’ve been working hard to listen to you more by being active on my Ravelry group, in the comments section, and across social media. There’s always more room for improvement, so this one will I think stay on the ole goals list for… ever.

On to 2016!

Personally, I’m hoping to continue my momentum of thoughtful consumerism. Still try to take it easy on the animal products, other than yarn. There’s so much I cannot control, or in some cases even know, about some of the supplies I am given to work with that being as careful as I can in other areas of my life is increasingly important to me. It’s hard wanting to reduce one’s carbon footprint in a world where so many of the mechanisms in place to get everything (from sustenance to clothing to, yes, craft supplies) to the consumer shroud the ickiness of it all. I don’t want to get to ranty or preachy here on my yarn-filled blog, but suffice it to say that coming up with practical solutions to the conundrums of consuming will remain important to me for a long time.

I have no desire (or need, thankyouverymuch) to loose weight. I really just want to eat healthier and exercise once in awhile. It’s so easy to be a cheese pizza vegetarian, but I’m going to try actually getting the vitamins one is supposed to get in a healthy diet. I’ll still eat pizza and ice cream and beer and candy, but maybe 2/3 of my daily meals can be plant based instead of 0-1/3.

A knitting project with bulky orange cables.

My first FO of 2016!

Speaking of lifestyle, which I started to touch on above, I’m doing something crazy that will be crazy hard for me this year. I’m consciously trying not to expand my business too much. I’ve learned a lot in the past year about how much time and effort it takes to put out a good pattern that I want to do a few things:

  • Don’t take on design work with too quick a turnaround – the work will suffer.
  • If I’m not super excited about a partnership that involves design work, don’t do it. The work, and I, will suffer.
  • Don’t forget that I work at an emotionally taxing job half of the time that has nothing to do with yarn. As I’ve said in the past, I work with minors as a public librarian, so I can’t say too much about my job. However, it’s hard to come up with or even work on a brilliant design idea when you’re contemplating whether or not a child you work with is safe.
  • Like I said above, I want to write a book, which is for sure going to require much of my design energy. I must not spread myself too thin.
  • Also, like many young women, I need to work on saying no and to stop apologizing for no reason. I think my work-life balance efforts should help train me on these.

Weaving is so much fun!

Weaving is so fun! I must do more!

Talking design work brings me to blog content. I need to do a better job of keeping the yarn craft alive and well on this blog. I know some of you are here for more than just knitting and crochet patterns. Based on the stats I ran for 2015, you all loved the weaving project I shared, so I’d love to share more yarn craft ideas like weaving, how to make crazy pom poms, macrame, and other crafts that use yarn. That sounds really fun!

The last big goal I have for 2016 merges my librarian and knitting skills. For a long time, I’ve wanted to host a read along/knit along project. I have a book in mind, but I don’t want to announce it quite yet. As a teaser, I’ll say that knitting plays a terribly charming role in the book I’m considering. At the moment I can’t decide if it would be fun to do a summer reading-inspired KAL, or if it makes sense to save it for fall. Let me know in the comments if you have any suggestions on the timing, or if you even have a book you think might unseat my top-secret, tentative pick.

Heidi Gustad hanging out in the Blitsy livestream studio.

Me in Blitsy’s livestream studio (so cool!)

Video will continue to be a priority for me in 2016. Luckily, I’ve already put out one video tutorial this year on the Hands Occupied YouTube channel, I’ve signed on for another year of hosting videos for AllFreeKnitting, and I’ve landed a monthly contract with Blitsy, which includes some live video hosting work, which is scary but really fun and exciting at the same time. So many things to be excited about and stay tuned for! 2016, I’m comin’ atcha!

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: blogging, books, designing, goals, hands occupied, Knitting, publishing, resolutions

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad (she/her) is a craft book author & designer specializing in yarn crafts. Her work combines vintage and modern design elements, prioritizing color and graphic motifs. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Heather

    January 5, 2016 at 10:29 am

    I’m so happy to have met you in 2015 and love to hear your ideas for 2016!

    Reply
  2. Pattymac

    May 29, 2016 at 11:50 am

    Holy Cow! I can’t believe you did all of that in one year…..while working a day job. Goodness gracious. Amazing! I love the weaving photo, too. Really pretty project. Off to check out some of your other work. I’m so glad to have met you, Heidi!

    Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), and I’ve been helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010. I got my start here, as a blogger, and since then I’ve shared more than a few tutorials here and on YouTube as I’ve grown as a pattern designer. 🧶 

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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts

handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer 🧶
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern fits with no ease vs. 4” of positive ease. There’s a bit more length to the cotton (brighter color) sample, but both are cropped and feature shoulder seams designed to sit an inch back onto the shoulder instead of on top, giving it a little swing. Length is easily adjustable for folks looking for less of a crop. 
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Pattern: Bevelled Tank by @handsoccupied for @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn summer 2024. Available for free from Hobbii at the 🔗 in my profile.
Yarn pictured: @kelbournewoolens Skipper and Camper. 
Dress form is adjusted to a 36” chest and ~5’3”ish in height. 
Human has a 40” chest and is 5’5”.
Both skirts are vintage.
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #handsoccupied #intarsia #handmade #knitting #colorwork
Let’s talk about fit and ease! . During the Beve Let’s talk about fit and ease!
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During the Bevelled Tank design process for @pompommag, I knit 2 samples using 2 different @KelbourneWoolens yarns. One was in Skipper (100% cotton, second photo) and the other was in Camper (100% 2 ply wool). The Skipper sample was knit for a 36” bust, which measures in at 40” with 4” of positive ease. And I knit the Camper Sample for my 40” bust with a 44” finished measurement. (BTW, I’m 5’5” for folks that find that measurement helpful in visualizing fit.)
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Based on the size chart for the Bevelled Tank, that means I knit one size 3 sample and one size 4. As designed, I conveniently fit a size 4 as intended with 4” of positive ease. When I wear the 3, there is no ease at all because the garment and my body are both 40” in size. Comparing the 2 garments, you can see how the fiber content (cotton vs. wool) and fit (no ease vs. 4” of positive ease) makes a difference in the look and feel of the finished garment. 
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These samples are a great way to compare what ease looks like on different bodies. While I can fit both a size 3 and 4, the garment with no ease feels more like pajamas or a bralette when I wear it. On the other hand, when I wear the one with 4” of positive ease, I feel comfortable enough to wear it to work, even as a crop top. Plus, it leaves me with enough room to layer it with a nice button down if I’m not feeling the cropped look one day. 
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I’m curious - how would you style this tank? Would you modify it with a few stockinette rows for added length? I’m so curious now that this pattern is finally out in the world. :) 
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #bevelledtank #handsoccupied #knitting #intarisa #handmade #kelbournewoolens #croppedsweater #summerknits
After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m ba After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m back with a brand new pattern in 9 sizes, and it’s FREE as part of @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn’s summer design collection! (Link is in my bio.)
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In my December newsletter, I announced that I was soliciting test knitters for a pattern that had originally been selected for the summer ’24 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly magazine. However, the magazine ceased publication after its spring ’24 issue, leaving in-progress designs unpublished. (It happens.) As a result, I’d begun the long process of editing, testing, and photographing the pattern for independent release through the Hands Occupied pattern shop and Ravelry.
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Before I was done with that process, Pom Pom Quarterly’s former editors reached out with an exciting proposal for the pattern. Post-magazine, they’ve begun to partner with yarn companies to produce high quality pattern collections. They wanted to include designs from the would-be current issue of Pom Pom Quarterly in a new collection for Hobbii yarn, including my Bevelled Tank. I worked with the same technical editors I would have for the magazine on this one, and as you can see from the photos, Pom Pom’s team did an amazing job of styling the garment to the beautiful standards they’re known for.
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You can learn more about the pattern on my blog and get the free pattern from Hobbii yarn - links to both in my profile. I’ll post sizing info in the comments for quick reference too. 🧶
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #knitting #intarsia #sponsored #colorworkknitting 
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Photos: @dianascarrunz 
Model: @angel.jade_
Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vi Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vintage knitting pattern from 1938 called the Fernlace Pullover. A pattern so nice, I knit it twice.
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Yellow version 💛: knit with Despondent Dyes’ Vintage Vixen Sport after attending a @squidneyknits vintage knitting retreat in 2019 & learning *so much*. Paired with a self-drafted circle skirt pattern. 
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Blue version 💙: knit with @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Sky Blue. Paired with the 1940s Boardwalk Duet sewing pattern from @decades_of_style 
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Head to my stories for 🔗🔗 to the handmade wardrobe blog posts I wrote about each take on the Fernlace Pullover, working with a vintage pattern, where to find vintage patterns (including the one I used), & some thoughts on sizing. 
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Image descriptions available in alt text. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadewardrobe #fernlacepullover #vintageknitting #vintageknittingpatterns #knitting_inspiration
Frogging is a word in the knitting world that mean Frogging is a word in the knitting world that means to rip out your knitting. It’s called frogging because frogs say “ribbit,” and when you’re tearing out your knitting, you will “rip it” out, and that sounds like ribbit. No really. 🐸 Did you know this fun fact? 
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P.S. I did like this design concept, but to make the pattern more knitter friendly as well as more wearable, I am making some tweaks to the construction. Excited to share when it’s ready! 🥰🧶
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Yarn: @blueskyfibers Woolstok North in Morning Frost & Highland Fleece 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #frogging #blueskyfibers #knittersofinstagram #blueskymakers #knittingvocabulary #bsfmakers #knitdesign
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