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Hands Occupied

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

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Back to School

How to DIY Book Covers - Click through for tutorial.

How to DIY the Perfect Book Cover

September 2, 2014 5 Comments

Last week I shared how to make my new favorite accessory, a DIY pencil clutch. In that post, I outed myself as a huge school supply nerd, revealing how much time I spent as a kid preparing and decorating school supplies for the coming year. Today’s tutorial shares my go-to method for covering textbooks (or any book), ideas for custom cover designs, and how to reinforce the covers to survive a year in a bumpy backpack.

DIY Pencil Clutch - Get the tutorial at handsoccupied.com

DIY Pencil Clutch

August 25, 2014 19 Comments

A couple years ago, I made a clutch using rulers and felt that I am still pretty excited about and use all the time. Since I can’t get enough of all things bookish, I recently got the notion in my head to take the school supply clutch concept to the next level with pencils and a slightly different structure, and I think I might love this one even more!

Yarn Swatch Wall Art at handsoccupied.com

Yarn Swatch Wall Art

August 4, 2014 3 Comments

Since I apparently can’t get yarn off my brain at any given time, today’s DIY wall art idea is inspired by the yarn swatches you’d knit to test the gauge of your yarn before casting on a new project. This would make a great gift for any knitting lover in your life – it’s back to school time, does your kid’s teacher have a yarn addiction? Or maybe their librarian… ;)

Vintage Poster Library Tote - Mod Podge Image Transfer Tutorial at handsoccupied.com

Vintage Poster Library Tote

June 9, 2014 1 Comment

My new favorite source for vintage images is called Vintagerio. It’s also my favorite place to spend hours drooling over and getting inspired by vintage ads, propaganda, vintage greeting cards, foreign vintage art and illustrations. Vintagerio’s incredible collection of thousands of high quality vintage images is perfect for vintage lovers and DIYers looking for images to craft with. The best part is that their library includes a lot of images I haven’t seen a million places before. Today, I’m sharing just one idea for how to use a vintage image in a DIY, but the possibilities are endless.

DIY Summer Reading Log for Grown-ups at handsoccupied.com

Reading Rainbow & DIY Summer Reading Log for Grown-Ups

June 2, 2014 6 Comments

Last week’s Reading Rainbow Kickstarter launch made quite the splash. It ushered my beloved childhood TV show back into the zeitgeist, and apparently, into my creative brain. Between that and the imminent start of summer reading, I have got books on the brain!

Glitter Polka Dot Notebook at Hands Occupied

Glitter Polka Dot Notebook

March 12, 2014 7 Comments

There are some new glitter-friendly stencils at Michaels these days, designed by my good friend (and all around really great lady) Amy from Mod Podge Rocks! They are peel and stick stencils, do you don’t have to worry about leakage under the stencil as you use them. I whipped up this polka dot notebook in no time, and I’m looking forward to gifting it to a creative friend who loves sketching as much as I love DIYing.

How-to: Simple Stamped Pencils | Hands Occupied

How-to: Simple Stamped Pencils

September 9, 2013 13 Comments

Make some custom pencils in under 5 minutes – perfect for gifts & back to school time!

Back to School Project Roundup | Hands Occupied

Back to School Project Roundup

September 5, 2013 Leave a Comment

Check out the Hands Occupied back-to-school project class of 2013!

Duck Tape Tablet Case & Foldover Clutch | Hands Occupied

How-to: Duck Tape Tablet Case & Foldover Clutch

August 27, 2013 Leave a Comment

Make a flexible and waterproof foldover clutch or tablet case for back to school!

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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

Craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Learn how to do the magic loop method for knitting Learn how to do the magic loop method for knitting in the round in 90 seconds. / Using the magic loop allows knitters to work in the round with a single, long circular needle at a range of circumferences. 
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For a longer, full-width & more detailed overview of magic loop knitting, check out my u2be & b1og, the 🔗🔗 are where you’d think. 🧶
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#handsoccupied #magicloop #knitting #howtoknit #learntoknit #knitter #knittinginspiration #knittinginstagram #knittingintheround
Since it won’t be clean for long, swipe to see w Since it won’t be clean for long, swipe to see what my home studio looks like these days. Nothing will ever quite be like the old Hands Occupied Studio, but I’m pretty pleased with how I shoehorned everything in this space. Function over form + a layer of yarn cuteness-meets-chaos is how I’d describe my creative space needs. 😆 When I was still renting the studio, those needs included “doesn’t rain suspicious brown water from a crack in the ceiling for a year,” so this is an improvement! 😆
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For a time lapse of the studio organizing and tszuj-ing process, scroll down a couple posts on my feed. (There’s also a video or two featuring the old studio if you’re curious.) Happy June, friends! 
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#handsoccupied #handsoccupiedstudio #knitdesigner #craftdesign #yarncrafts #latchhook #makerlife #heidigustad #chicagocrafter
Who doesn’t love magic loop knitting? Who doesn’t know what it is? How about when circular needles were invented?
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In todays new bl0g post + video tutorial, you’ll learn about the magic loop method for knitting in the round, how to do it and why to use it, and when it came to be. The 🔗 is in my b1o. 🧶 
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#handsoccupied #magicloop #knitting #howtoknit #knittinginspiration #knittingintheround
Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches on my home studio. After losing my studio space last fall, it’s feels really great to *occupy* this new space all the way. 😉
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I started by removing general clutter & returning straggler supplies from various WIPs, videos & design deadlines to their homes. Next, I hung a third peg board in the space - this one is mostly for display and less for organizing tools or projects. For the first time ever, I’m displaying projects from my book, plus a couple other faves. (The best thing about designing more yarn crafts besides knit & crochet is that I have some really fun -and delightfully pettable 😆- samples around.) I finished by adding a square dowel to my small supply storage tower to keep it from tipping over, plus re-arranging and de-cluttering the closet. 
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This cleaner space already has me feeling so much more creative and less overwhelmed. Now to find a safe spot in the basement for the tower of project samples in Rubbermaid tubs I liberated from my WIPs closet. Also why are there five?! 
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Here’s to keeping it clean for a few weeks! 🧶 
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#handsocupied #handsoccupiedstudio #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #yarncraft #knitter #crocheter #latchhook #latchhookbook
It’s a disaster in here and my video microphone It’s a disaster in here and my video microphone isn’t cooperating, but it could be worse! How’s your day? 
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(If we haven’t yet met, I’m Heidi and I’m a pattern designer and tutorial creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting & latch hook. You can learn more about my work and regularly find new tutorials in my profile. ☺️👋🏻)
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#handsoccupied #craftstudio #knitter #yarncrafter
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