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Hands Occupied

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

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Heidi

A sneak peek at some of the design inspiration for Heidi Gustad's upcoming Latch Hook Book, fall 2020.

Latch Hook Book Design Inspo

May 29, 2020 Leave a Comment

An early sneak peek at the inspiration behind my new latch hook book, which publishes fall 2020!

Picks of the Week for May 15, 2020 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

May 15, 2020 Leave a Comment

Find standout project inspiration to refresh your to-make list.

Picks of the Week for April 19, 2020 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

April 19, 2020 Leave a Comment

Picks of the Week is a biweekly series of blog posts featuring the best the internet has recently had to offer in terms of yarn craft inspiration and patterns. Check out what’s new!

What's up, 2020? Check out this brand new blog post about what Heidi has been up to on Hands Occupied hiatus, and plans for the rest of the year to come, including some surprises!

What’s up, 2020? (No seriously, what is going on?)

April 4, 2020 Leave a Comment

What I’ve been up to on my book hiatus besides writing a book), and plans for the rest of the year to come, including some surprises!

A quick look back at a year of growth for Hands Occupied, and creative dreams for the year (and decade) to come!

Almost a decade of Hands Occupied

January 6, 2020 2 Comments

A quick look back at a year of growth for Hands Occupied, and creative dreams for the year (and decade) to come!

Ever wanted to knit or crochet something in team colors, only to be disappointed by the very plasticy options available? In this month's yarn review and giveaway, let me introduce you to KnitPal, a company specializing in hand dyed wool yarns in accurate team colors.

KnitPal Yarn Review & Giveaway

December 20, 2019 3 Comments

Ever wanted to knit or crochet something in team colors, only to be disappointed by the very plasticy options available? In this month’s yarn review and giveaway, let me introduce you to KnitPal, a company specializing in hand dyed wool yarns in accurate team colors.

Picks of the Week for December 13, 2019 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

December 13, 2019 Leave a Comment

It’s beginning to look festive out there! It’s mid-December, which means the winter holidays are in full-effect and holiday parties have begun. If you’re like me, you’ll be filling every minute not tethered to your to-do list looking to recharge your batteries. What better way than by curling up with a sneaky stitching project? This week, we’ve got ideas for holiday cross-stitch, sewing, and your favorite: yarn crafts. ;)

Read about one knitter's Christmas inspired take on the Soldotna Crop sweater pattern by Caitlin Hunter, including tips for customizing for fit!

A Christmasy Soldotna Crop / Handmade Wardrobe

December 10, 2019 1 Comment

Read about one knitter’s Christmas inspired take on the Soldotna Crop sweater pattern by Caitlin Hunter, including tips for customizing for fit!

The Triangle Rib Baby Hat knits up so quickly! Get your hands on this free charity knitting pattern for babies on Hands Occupied. #charityknitting #freepattern #babyknitting

Triangle Rib Baby Hat for Charity Knitting (plus a Charity KCAL!)

December 4, 2019 Leave a Comment

The Triangle Rib Baby Hat knits up so quickly! Get your hands on this free charity knitting pattern for babies and start stitching for a cause. :)

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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), 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.

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handsoccupied

Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
🧶 Really into intarsia
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop the latest patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
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Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
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Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
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#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
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What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
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