• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

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

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • YouTube

A Visit to the Yak Ranch

September 8, 2015 4 Comments

The Bijou Basin Ranch yaks enjoy some hay! - Take a look inside the yaks' lives in this mini documentary.

In a past life, I thought I was going to be a documentary filmmaker. Did the internship, the film classes – all of that. While I still LOVE documentary films, I know that career path isn’t for me. However, I do love a documentary style of storytelling, so when the opportunity presented itself for me to visit a working yak ranch that produces fiber that’s used to make yarn, I realized I could tap into my documentary roots to share a fascinating glimpse into this unique corner of the world.

Heidi from Hands Occupied visits the Bijou Basin Ranch yaks in Colorado. - Take a look inside the yaks' lives in this mini documentary.

Of course, the farm I visited was the Bijou Basin Ranch, the yarn company I recently worked with to do the Delta Hat Knit Along. It was sheer serendipity that my husband I and were visiting Denver for a brief getaway recently. When I mentioned our trip to the Bijou folks, they said they’d be delighted to have us out to “meet the kids”. Take a look at this mini documentary about our experience getting to know the herd.

The Bijou Basin Ranch yaks enjoy some quality pasture time! - Take a look inside the yaks' lives in this mini documentary.

Click for a larger version of this photo.

The Bijou Basin Ranch yaks enjoy some hay! - Take a look inside the yaks' lives in this mini documentary.

As I say in the video, this was one of the most special animal encounters I’ve ever experienced. Could you imagine this being your everyday life? While I don’t think I’ll leave the library and big city behind anytime soon, I think I’ll need to make more mini docs about different corners of the yarn world like this. The best part? The more I make, the less rusty I’ll get! Stay tuned. :)

The Bijou Basin Ranch yaks enjoy some treats! - Take a look inside the yaks' lives in this mini documentary.

Filed Under: Knit Along, Knitting, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: bbrhandsoccupied, bijou basin, bijou basin ranch, deltahatkal, Knitting, mini docs, yak ranch, yaks, yarn

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

Previous Post: « Picks of the Week
Next Post: September Sponsor Spotlight »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • Yak Yarn!Yak Yarn!
  • It’s the Delta Hat Knit Along!It’s the Delta Hat Knit Along!
  • The Delta Hat is here, let’s celebrate with a knit along!The Delta Hat is here, let’s celebrate with a knit along!
  • Picks of the WeekPicks of the Week

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Comments

  1. Julie

    September 9, 2015 at 7:10 pm

    that is so cool, I’m so jealous you got to hang out at the BB Ranch, those yaks are super cute.

    Reply
  2. Roslyn Mulloy

    September 11, 2015 at 6:41 am

    I had the pleasure of meeting Eileen last September
    At Salida Fiber Festival. Used yak and bamboo mix to make a shawette by Stephen West, Bone yard. Love the yarn!

    Reply
  3. Roslyn Mulloy

    September 11, 2015 at 6:44 am

    I had the pleasure of meeting Eileen last year in Salida CO. I have made a shawette with the yak and bamboo mix. So soft.

    Reply
  4. Cindy

    September 12, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    Loved the video! Loved the content! Looking forward to the next.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

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

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

UPDATES BY EMAIL

Monthly highlights sent to your inbox.

Find Me Elsewhere, If You’re There

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
.
Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
When you have four big skeins of pretty 2 ply yarn When you have four big skeins of pretty 2 ply yarn, you immediately think sweater, right? 
.
My wardrobe could use another handmade sweater - I’m thinking something simple, seamed and with a decent amount of ease for potentially wearing tucked in with jeans or skirts. 🤔 
.
Yarn: @universal_yarn Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Antarctica and Dragon’s Breath, wound in thick skeins of 100% superwash wool that’s a light DK weight.
How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style . How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style 
.
In knitting, there are a few common knitting styles. Most often you’re going to encounter continental style and English (throwing) style on your knitting journey. I recently had an old video teaching continental style get a lot of views. Based on the comments, it was clear the people wanted to also see a throwing tutorial, so here you go! 🧶
.
Please note that there is a LOT of variation in knitting styles, and one isn’t necessarily better than another. Most often, I’ve found it comes down to two things: how you were taught and whether or not you’re really into colorwork knitting (which can involve a mix of styles). 
.
Longer-term knitters who’ve made it this far: do you prefer one over the other? And why? 
.
#handsoccupied #englishknitting #learntoknit #knitting #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitting_inspiration
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
.
I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
.
I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
.

#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
.
The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
.
I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
.
#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
.
What’s on your needles this week? 
.
Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy