• 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
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

Knitting

All of the knitting patterns, tutorials and inspiration from the Blog. There's a lot of it, so if you're looking for something in particular, the search bar at the top left might come in handy.

Vintage Checked Mittens at HandsOccupied.com

Vintage Checked Mittens

January 19, 2015 2 Comments

My grandmother knitted these mittens for my mom when she was a teen. When I was home for Christmas, my mom said I could have them, and I was obviously excited. They’re really a sweet little set of mittens with a basic checked motif, and I absolutely love the color.

Free Pattern - The Long John Cowl by Hands Occupied

Long John Cowl Pattern

January 12, 2015 13 Comments

As I said last week, it’s another cold January in Chicago this year! It’s not quite the polar vortex level of cold temps of 30 below from last year, but it’s been close. A Fargo native, I can handle my cold weather. Part of handling cold weather in chill-town (see what I did there? Like Chi-town, eh? Eh?), is leaving the house prepared. Not unlike the Faux Woven Cowl designed during last year’s polar vortex, the Long John Cowl is all about comfortably keeping warm and layering for the cold.

A video tutorial for how to fix mistakes in brioche knitting without having to rip out your entire project! | HandsOccupied.com

How to Fix Mistakes in Brioche Knitting

January 5, 2015 16 Comments

A couple months ago I shared a pattern for an awesomely fluffy cowl in brioche stitch, which a lot of you lovely knitters out there have made (and even adapted!) for yourselves. One thing I didn’t think to write about in that post was how to tear back and fix a brioche project if you make a mistake. Luckily one of your fellow readers reached out on Facebook to ask if I’d make a video on just that.

Red Hats for Preemies - Click through for the free pattern & donate a hat to help raise awareness about congenital heart defects in newborns. | hands occupied.com.

Red Hats for Preemies

December 29, 2014 14 Comments

A couple months ago I shared a very personal story about losing a relative to a congenital heart defect as a teen. In that post I shared a pattern called Baby Hearts Hat in two sizes, newborn and infant, and I let you guys know about the American Heart Association’s Little Hats, Big Hearts drive. For those who missed it, the AHA is looking for red baby hat donations to be given to (hopefully!) every baby born in February in Chicago.

DIY Metal Stamped Stitch Markers | Get the tutorial at HandsOccupied.com

DIY Metal Stamped Stitch Markers

December 22, 2014 1 Comment

Stitch markers are really easy to make, you guys! I didn’t really realize it until trying it for myself last week, but with just a few jump rings (which you can find at my big box craft retailer or online) and charms, you’ve got a stitch marker. I DIY’d these as a last minute gift for a knitter friend, but you can put this tutorial in your back pocket for any time you’ve got a knitter in need of a personalized gift.

Low Tide Cowl - Free Knitting Pattern at HandsOccupied.com

Low Tide Cowl

December 15, 2014 11 Comments

This toasty cowl is great for blustery winter walks! It’s bulky enough to stay up around your chin on its own, but won’t totally suffocate you as you wear it. An everyday accessory, you can wear this reversible cabled cowl all winter long. The nice thing about reversible cowls when you’re in a rush: you won’t need to waste an extra second of your morning routine figuring out which which way to wear your neck warmer!

The Remy Pullover Sweater by Hands Occupied

The Remy Pullover Sweater (& Lion Brand Giveaway Winner!)

December 2, 2014 Leave a Comment

I wanted the Remy to be a really comfortable sweater that’s warm, but not too warm. The cables and demi-boatneck collar lend it to doubling as both a casual and formal sweater. After knitting a whole, human-sized sweater, you want it to be useful, right?

Mini Christmas Stockings Pattern at HandsOccupied.com

Mini Christmas Stockings Pattern

December 1, 2014 12 Comments

Looking for a giftable pattern that knits up in just a few hours? These mini stockings can be used as ornaments, baby booties, a garland, a gift topper or even as part of a table setting!

How to Work a Daisy Stitch at HandsOccupied.com

How to Work a Daisy Stitch

November 26, 2014 Leave a Comment

On Monday, I shared the pattern (that it appears you guys are loving- yay!) for the Winter Sea Stocking Cap featuring a daisy/shell/fan motif. In that post, I promised video tutorials for how to work the daisy stitch that forms the daisy/shell/fan, and here they are!

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 22
  • Page 23
  • Page 24
  • Page 25
  • Page 26
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 29
  • Go to Next Page »

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), 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. 🧶 

learn more / work with me

Find Me on Social Media

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi Gustad

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer 🧶
.
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern fits with no ease vs. 4” of positive ease. There’s a bit more length to the cotton (brighter color) sample, but both are cropped and feature shoulder seams designed to sit an inch back onto the shoulder instead of on top, giving it a little swing. Length is easily adjustable for folks looking for less of a crop. 
.
Pattern: Bevelled Tank by @handsoccupied for @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn summer 2024. Available for free from Hobbii at the 🔗 in my profile.
Yarn pictured: @kelbournewoolens Skipper and Camper. 
Dress form is adjusted to a 36” chest and ~5’3”ish in height. 
Human has a 40” chest and is 5’5”.
Both skirts are vintage.
.
#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #handsoccupied #intarsia #handmade #knitting #colorwork
Let’s talk about fit and ease! . During the Beve Let’s talk about fit and ease!
.
During the Bevelled Tank design process for @pompommag, I knit 2 samples using 2 different @KelbourneWoolens yarns. One was in Skipper (100% cotton, second photo) and the other was in Camper (100% 2 ply wool). The Skipper sample was knit for a 36” bust, which measures in at 40” with 4” of positive ease. And I knit the Camper Sample for my 40” bust with a 44” finished measurement. (BTW, I’m 5’5” for folks that find that measurement helpful in visualizing fit.)
.
Based on the size chart for the Bevelled Tank, that means I knit one size 3 sample and one size 4. As designed, I conveniently fit a size 4 as intended with 4” of positive ease. When I wear the 3, there is no ease at all because the garment and my body are both 40” in size. Comparing the 2 garments, you can see how the fiber content (cotton vs. wool) and fit (no ease vs. 4” of positive ease) makes a difference in the look and feel of the finished garment. 
.
These samples are a great way to compare what ease looks like on different bodies. While I can fit both a size 3 and 4, the garment with no ease feels more like pajamas or a bralette when I wear it. On the other hand, when I wear the one with 4” of positive ease, I feel comfortable enough to wear it to work, even as a crop top. Plus, it leaves me with enough room to layer it with a nice button down if I’m not feeling the cropped look one day. 
.
I’m curious - how would you style this tank? Would you modify it with a few stockinette rows for added length? I’m so curious now that this pattern is finally out in the world. :) 
.
#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #bevelledtank #handsoccupied #knitting #intarisa #handmade #kelbournewoolens #croppedsweater #summerknits
After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m ba After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m back with a brand new pattern in 9 sizes, and it’s FREE as part of @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn’s summer design collection! (Link is in my bio.)
.
In my December newsletter, I announced that I was soliciting test knitters for a pattern that had originally been selected for the summer ’24 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly magazine. However, the magazine ceased publication after its spring ’24 issue, leaving in-progress designs unpublished. (It happens.) As a result, I’d begun the long process of editing, testing, and photographing the pattern for independent release through the Hands Occupied pattern shop and Ravelry.
.
Before I was done with that process, Pom Pom Quarterly’s former editors reached out with an exciting proposal for the pattern. Post-magazine, they’ve begun to partner with yarn companies to produce high quality pattern collections. They wanted to include designs from the would-be current issue of Pom Pom Quarterly in a new collection for Hobbii yarn, including my Bevelled Tank. I worked with the same technical editors I would have for the magazine on this one, and as you can see from the photos, Pom Pom’s team did an amazing job of styling the garment to the beautiful standards they’re known for.
.
You can learn more about the pattern on my blog and get the free pattern from Hobbii yarn - links to both in my profile. I’ll post sizing info in the comments for quick reference too. 🧶
.
#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #knitting #intarsia #sponsored #colorworkknitting 
.
Photos: @dianascarrunz 
Model: @angel.jade_
Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vi Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vintage knitting pattern from 1938 called the Fernlace Pullover. A pattern so nice, I knit it twice.
.
Yellow version 💛: knit with Despondent Dyes’ Vintage Vixen Sport after attending a @squidneyknits vintage knitting retreat in 2019 & learning *so much*. Paired with a self-drafted circle skirt pattern. 
.
Blue version 💙: knit with @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Sky Blue. Paired with the 1940s Boardwalk Duet sewing pattern from @decades_of_style 
.
Head to my stories for 🔗🔗 to the handmade wardrobe blog posts I wrote about each take on the Fernlace Pullover, working with a vintage pattern, where to find vintage patterns (including the one I used), & some thoughts on sizing. 
.
Image descriptions available in alt text. 
.
#handsoccupied #handmadewardrobe #fernlacepullover #vintageknitting #vintageknittingpatterns #knitting_inspiration
Frogging is a word in the knitting world that mean Frogging is a word in the knitting world that means to rip out your knitting. It’s called frogging because frogs say “ribbit,” and when you’re tearing out your knitting, you will “rip it” out, and that sounds like ribbit. No really. 🐸 Did you know this fun fact? 
.
P.S. I did like this design concept, but to make the pattern more knitter friendly as well as more wearable, I am making some tweaks to the construction. Excited to share when it’s ready! 🥰🧶
.
Yarn: @blueskyfibers Woolstok North in Morning Frost & Highland Fleece 
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #frogging #blueskyfibers #knittersofinstagram #blueskymakers #knittingvocabulary #bsfmakers #knitdesign
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy