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Hands Occupied

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

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Sewing

Click through for a Quilted Flower Tote tutorial and intro to English paper piecing. Fun, portable and easy!

Quilted Flower Tote & English Paper Piecing

May 11, 2015 6 Comments

English paper piecing is a method of hand quilting accomplished by sewing bits of fabric around cut out pieces of paper, and then sewing those together to form a quilt. Since I wish there was a little more fabric in my crafty life, today’s tutorial is an intro to the basics of English paper piecing and how to make a flower applique for jazzing up a tote bag.

Knitting Needle (or Pencil) Case DIY

Knitting Needle Case DIY

March 26, 2014 5 Comments

These fun little knitting needle pouches can also be used as a pencil or crochet hook case!

DIY FYI: Threading a Needle - How to thread a needle at Hands Occupied

DIY FYI: Threading a Needle

February 26, 2014 2 Comments

When I took an etextiles workshop last week, I was reminded that not everyone in the world can easily thread a needle. There are many people in this world (myself included when I have a tendonitis flare-up) who can’t grasp something as small as a piece of thread or hold it steadily enough to get it through a needle. Or maybe there’s a vision issue at play. Physical limitations aside, sometimes you’re just working with crazy thread! Read on for my top tip for getting your needle threaded so you can get down to DIY business!

How-to: DIY a Wide Belt at Hands Occupied

How-to: DIY a Wide Belt

November 25, 2013 8 Comments

Whip up a fun, flattering belt with just a few supplies!

How-to: Back Seat Pet Protector | Hands Occupied

How-to: Back Seat Pet Protector

November 14, 2013 12 Comments

How to sew your own back seat guard to keep your car clean and your pets comfy!

How-to: Make a Scarf Out of Almost Anything | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Make a Scarf Out of Almost Anything

November 8, 2012 6 Comments

Learn to sew a rolled hem to convert fabric into cute scarves, pocket squares or handkerchiefs.

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse

September 4, 2012 3 Comments

Get schooled! Learn how to make your own adorkable clutch purse with yardsticks & felt.

How-to: PVC Outdoor Chair with Laptop Desk

January 9, 2012 Leave a Comment

An easily customizable chair/desk combo that’s perfect for dorking out on the beach!

How-to: Faux Fur Vest

January 2, 2012 Leave a Comment

Make your own faux fur vest in just a few minutes.

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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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Latch Hook by Heidi Gustad

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handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer helping makers untangle various techniques with a blog & YouTube channel
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Stitching around the Christmas tree 🧶 . Working Stitching around the Christmas tree 🧶
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Working on a new sample of an old sweater today, and I can confirm: a tree makes a pretty decent yarn holder. 
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Yarn: @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Orange Peel
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#handsoccupied #eweeweyarns #orangeyarn #knitting #wip #knitters #knittersofinstagram
Meet Yarn Citizen, a new line of sustainably sourc Meet Yarn Citizen, a new line of sustainably sourced and affordably priced yarn from Jimmy Beans Wool. Enter to win a kit featuring this yarn in the November yarn review & giveaway on the bl0g!
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Yarn: @jimmybeanswool Yarn Citizen Harmony Worsted
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Review & entry form 🔗 are where you’d think. 😉 
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#handsoccupied #yarncitizen #yarncitizenharmonyworsted #yarnreview #knitting #knitter #knitinspiration
Happy with how the mini Nightmare Before Christmas Happy with how the mini Nightmare Before Christmas sweater vest turned out! Now my dog and I can go on walks in matching seasonal fits 😂
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1. I knit this bottom up with scraps and ran out of black yarn. If the vest consistently drifts down her chest upon wear, I might extend the collar or redo the chest panel at a smaller size. If you’ve read this far, what do you think? As a designer, I so rarely get to improvise a knitting project, and I’m having fun working with fewer rules than usual. 🧶
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2. June has a grooming appointment this weekend. She’s currently the mayor of scruff town, I know. 🫡
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Pattern: Chart is from the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern by yours truly in the official Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book 
Yarn: @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted
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#spiralhillsweatervest #spiralhillsweatervestkal #handsoccupied #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook #dogknit #knitsfordogs #handmade #brooklyntweed
I finished June’s doggie version of the Spiral H I finished June’s doggie version of the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest & it’s so cute! 🥰
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Do you think June appreciates the fact that she now has a sweater made with @brooklyntweed yarn? 😂 
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#handsoccupied #dogsweater #dogjumper #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #spiralhillsweatervest #spiralhillsweatervestkal #handmade #brooklyntweedimbue #brooklyntweed
Squeezing in some stitching on a selfish sweater t Squeezing in some stitching on a selfish sweater this Saturday morning 😋
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Pattern: Fruit Stripe Pullover with some intarsia mods on the front panel 
Designed by Rachel Brockman for @universal_yarn 
Yarn: Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Dragon’s Breath & Antarctica 🧶
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#handsoccupied #knitting #weekendknitting #sweaterknitting #universalyarn #fibranaturacobblestone
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