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Hands Occupied

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

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Picks of the Week for July 24, 2020 |

Picks of the Week

July 24, 2020 Leave a Comment

Some weeks all of my picks wind up falling under the same genre of yarn craft, and this time, it’s crochet! Whether Christmas in July or summer camp nostalgia are calling your name, check out this roundup of fresh ideas for inspiration.

Briggs & Little Country Roving yarn is 100% wool and comes from one of the only remaining woolen mills in North America that does everything to change raw wool into wool spun yarns, all under one roof. Learn more about this versatile yarn and enter for your chance to win a skein on the Hands Occupied Blog.

Briggs & Little Country Roving – Yarn Review & Giveaway

January 31, 2019 1 Comment

Briggs & Little Country Roving yarn comes from one of the only remaining woolen mills in North America that takes raw wool and turns it into spun yarns, all under one roof from start to finish. Learn more about this versatile Canadian yarn and enter for your chance to win a skein!

Indie Ads on Hands Occupied

Indie Ads on Hands Occupied

July 1, 2015 Leave a Comment

I’d like to dedicate more space on the blog to advertisers in the knitting industry, thereby dedicating more space on the site to advertisers directly relevant to you, the readers!

2015 Reader Survey Results! at Hands Occupied

Survey Results!

February 10, 2015 2 Comments

You guys had so many useful, funny, practical, nice things to say in this year’s reader survey! I’ve got a mess o’ charts coming at you in this post if you’re curious to see what everyone had to say on the multiple choice questions, and below that you’ll find my answers to some of your burning questions that may or may not have to do with my sometimes-orange hair, book recommendations, favorite needles and hooks, and my caffeine intake.

Summer Reading List at handsoccupied.com

Summer Reading List

June 3, 2014 1 Comment

Yesterday, I waxed poetic about Reading Rainbow and what summer reading means in today’s world. I also shared how to make a reading log so you can DIY your own summer reading program. So! Phase 2 of DIYing your summering reading is filling your brand new log up with reading & other personal goals for the summer. If you’re not sure where to start a summer reading list, I’ve got a few recommendations for you. :) Here are my 8 favorite books for any age, and if you haven’t read them, you should add them to your summer reading bucket list!

Survey Says…

May 23, 2013 1 Comment

Find out what people think of Hands Occupied with the help of colorful pie charts.

My Mom and I baking as a baby. | HandsOccupied.com

Mother’s Day

May 12, 2013 1 Comment

Opening the door to opening up with some words about my mom.

Take the Hands Occupied Reader Survey

Wanted: Your Thoughts!

May 1, 2013 Leave a Comment

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Feed me! Well, you.

March 29, 2013 Leave a Comment

Details about new ways to subscribe to Hands Occupied.

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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 & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
When you have four big skeins of pretty 2 ply yarn When you have four big skeins of pretty 2 ply yarn, you immediately think sweater, right? 
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My wardrobe could use another handmade sweater - I’m thinking something simple, seamed and with a decent amount of ease for potentially wearing tucked in with jeans or skirts. 🤔 
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Yarn: @universal_yarn Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Antarctica and Dragon’s Breath, wound in thick skeins of 100% superwash wool that’s a light DK weight.
How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style . How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style 
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In knitting, there are a few common knitting styles. Most often you’re going to encounter continental style and English (throwing) style on your knitting journey. I recently had an old video teaching continental style get a lot of views. Based on the comments, it was clear the people wanted to also see a throwing tutorial, so here you go! 🧶
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Please note that there is a LOT of variation in knitting styles, and one isn’t necessarily better than another. Most often, I’ve found it comes down to two things: how you were taught and whether or not you’re really into colorwork knitting (which can involve a mix of styles). 
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Longer-term knitters who’ve made it this far: do you prefer one over the other? And why? 
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#handsoccupied #englishknitting #learntoknit #knitting #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitting_inspiration
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
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I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
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I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
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The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
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I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
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What’s on your needles this week? 
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Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
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