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Hands Occupied

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

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Crochet

All of the crochet patterns, tutorials and inspiration from the Blog. If there's a specific pattern you're hoping to find, the search bar at the top left might come in handy.

Four skeins of primary colored yarn in color as well as black and white, used to help explain the concept of color value.

Color Value for Makers

February 5, 2021 Leave a Comment

Let’s talk a bit about color theory for makers, beginning with the concept of color value. This is a great place to start if you’re having trouble selecting yarn colors for projects.

Learn about 5 common yarn ball types, what they're called, and how to work with them!

5 Types of Yarn Ball & How to Work with Them

January 31, 2021 Leave a Comment

Learn about 5 common yarn ball types, what they’re called, and how to work with them!

The new Hands Occupied YouTube Channel is live! Check out the first videos, subscribe, and help me decide what tutorials to make next.

The New Hands Occupied YouTube Channel is Live!

September 30, 2020 1 Comment

The new Hands Occupied YouTube Channel is live! Check out the first videos, subscribe, and help me decide what tutorials to make next.

Over the Rainbow Softie, a free crochet pattern using 1 package of Lion Brand Bon Bons yarn. Crochet an adorable, on-trend softie toy that easily doubles as DIY nursery decor.

Over the Rainbow Softie – Free Crochet Pattern

September 23, 2019 Leave a Comment

Over the Rainbow Softie, a free crochet pattern using 1 package of Lion Brand Bonbons yarn. Crochet an adorable, on-trend softie toy that easily doubles as DIY nursery decor.

Sun & Flower Pillows - free crochet pattern! Quickly crochet a set of adorable, summery home accessories with the free pattern for these sun and flower-inspired throw pillows! Visit the Hands Occupied blog for the free crochet pattern. #crochet #freepattern #bulkyyarn #quickcrochetproject

Sun & Flower Pillows – Free Crochet Pattern

June 24, 2019 1 Comment

Quickly crochet a set of adorable, summery home accessories with a free pattern for these sun and flower-inspired throw pillows!

Knit or crochet some adorable ornaments to trim your tree! Get your hands on 12 free knit and crochet patterns for Christmas ornaments. Each ornament doubles as a great gift topper or stocking stuffer!

A look at ALL of the Ornaments of Christmas (and a surprise 25% off sale!)

December 18, 2018 Leave a Comment

Looking for a happy little knitting or crochet project? Take a peek at the 24 Ornaments of Christmas, a festive collection 4 years in the making, and get in on a little sale we’ve got going to celebrate the release of all 24 patterns. 😉

The gift of citrus fruit, particularly oranges, is a long-standing Christmas treat. To celebrate this old-fashioned holiday tradition, crochet a fast orange ornament for your tree! Get the free pattern on Hands Occupied.

Crochet Orange Ornament

December 3, 2018 5 Comments

The gift of citrus fruit, particularly oranges, is a long-standing Christmastime treat. To celebrate this old-fashioned holiday tradition, crochet a fast orange ornament for your tree with this free pattern!

Scandinavian Advent Calendar - free crochet pattern -- An advent calendar is a great way to make your own keepsake Christmas decoration and build a family tradition for years to come. The Scandinavian Advent Calendar is great for crocheters at almost any skill level and is inspired by beautiful holiday decor found in Scandinavia. This pattern features basic embroidery stitches for added texture and a handmade look.

Scandinavian Advent Calendar

November 6, 2018 1 Comment

An advent calendar is a great way to make your own keepsake Christmas decoration and build a family tradition for years to come. The beginner-friendly Scandinavian Advent Calendar is a fun, free crochet pattern featuring mostly single crochet stitches and basic embroidery for a handmade, homey look.

Get your hands on the free crochet pattern for the Ripple Wrap! The Ripple Wrap is a four-color take on one of the most universally-recognized crochet stitches: the ripple stitch. Seen in afghan patterns in grandmothers' houses everywhere, the ripple stitch creates a fun zig zag pattern that opens up tons of possibilities for color combos.

Ripple Wrap – Free Crochet Pattern

September 18, 2018 2 Comments

The Ripple Wrap is a four-color take on one of the most universally-recognized crochet stitches: the ripple stitch. Seen in afghan patterns in grandmothers’ houses everywhere, the ripple stitch creates a fun zig zag pattern that opens up tons of possibilities for color combos.

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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
This audio was me last summer while secretly desig This audio was me last summer while secretly designing the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern behind the scenes. 😆 I very often design with primary colors, so trying to explain suddenly working with black, white and grey was awkward/kinda funny. 🩶
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In case you missed it, this is my design from the new book ‘Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town,’ available now from @insighteditions & @tanisknits. We’re doing a knit along starting very soon, and we’ll be knitting this pattern! I’ve got weekly video tutorials planned for this educationally-focused knit along. This KAL is especially for you if you’re eager to work on your intarsia. 🧶
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Full KAL details, yarn quantities & pattern information are available on my bl0g, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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Yarn: @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted
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#nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook #handsoccupied #spiralhillsweatervest #knitting #halloweenknitting #knitalong #kal #knitting_inspiration #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #learntoknit
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
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