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Hands Occupied

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

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Currently Knitting

October 26, 2015 1 Comment

Yarns from Ewe Ewe, Manos del Uruguary, Lion Brand & Mountain Meadow Wool

Knitting season is in full swing, and I’ve been busy developing and working on a lot of designs for winter and spring releases this month. Based on where I’m at with sketching, collaborating, swatching, designing and finally knitting these new creations, you guys can brace yourself for lots of winter accessories, and even a fun baby project headed your way! Let’s take a look at what I’ve had my hands on this month, shall we?

Manos del Uruguay's Clara yarn in Follage

Manos del Uruguay’s Clara yarn in Follage

I spotted this new Follage (that’s right, not foliage, follage) colorway on the Manos del Uruguay site a few months back and was totally smitten. When I got this yarn in the mail, the color was true to how it photographed, plus the single-ply, 100% merino yarn is so buoyant and lush. It’s one of those rare yarns that my husband spotted in my studio, picked up, and immediately said, “You know, this would make a really nice hat for like a guy. Like for me.” Ha! I hadn’t yet decided what his Christmas present was going to be, so I think he made the choice for me! Basically, this yarn is awesome, and expect a one-skein hat designed with dudes in mind in the coming months. :)

Swatches knit with Mountain Meadow Wool's Powell yarn in Fern and Natural

Mountain Meadow Wool's Powell yarn in Fern and Natural

Mountain Meadow Wool’s Powell yarn in Fern and Natural

I’m also knitting with a couple of skeins of Mountain Meadow Wool’s Powell, and as you can see from my swatches up there, I’ve got some fun slipped-stitch colorwork planned for it. This yarn is labeled differently than a lot of yarns out there. The ranch of origin is listed right alongside the yarn’s fiber content, which is super cool! Most of the time, you don’t have the slightest clue where the fiber you’re working with comes from, but since Mountain Meadow is first and foremost a mill, it makes sense that their yarn prioritizes letting the maker know where their yarn comes from.

Lion Brand Yarn's LB Collection Cotton Bamboo yarn in Cherry Blossom

Lion Brand Yarn’s LB Collection Cotton Bamboo yarn in Cherry Blossom

Next up, I’ve got this fun cotton/bamboo blend yarn from Lion Brand’s LB Collection. The LB Collection is a line of affordable yarns made with higher quality fibers, so they occupy the space between more expensive boutique yarns and big box store yarns. Like a lot of cotton bamboo blends, LB Collection’s Cotton Bamboo yarn is smooth to the touch and has great stitch definition. Perfect, ahem, for some adorable baby knits!

Ewe Ewe Yarn's Ewe So Sporty yarn in Orange Peel & Sky Blue

Ewe Ewe Yarn’s Ewe So Sporty yarn in Orange Peel & Sky Blue

Last but not least, I’ve been spending a lot of time with Ewe Ewe Yarns this month, specifically their Ewe So Sporty yarn. This yarn is springy, and I’ve found it to be very colorwork-friendly, sticking to itself just enough to make stranded projects go smoothly. I’m working on TWO designs with this yarn which are set to be released together in January. I’m so excited, I can’t wait to share these designs with you!

Yarn featured was provided by the brand or a distributor thereof. Much of the yarn was given as yarn support for designs to be released in the coming months. Opinions are my own. 

Filed Under: Knitting, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: currently knitting, ewe ewe yarns, lion brand yarn, manos del uruguay, mountain meadow wool, what i'm knitting with

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

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Comments

  1. Ina

    November 3, 2015 at 10:07 pm

    The manos de urguay yarn looks so wonderful! I don’t know why but I don’t feel attracted at all by cotton this time of year! Your bamboo cotton swatch looks really smooth though!

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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

Yarn craft designer & author. Into intarsia knits, latch hook, color & vintage-modern style.
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👇🏻 Book, Patterns, Tutorials

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Sunday stitches with June. ☺️ . Yarn: @brookly Sunday stitches with June. ☺️
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Yarn: @brooklyntweed Arbor
Pattern: in-progress by yours truly 
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#handsoccupied #intarsia #colorworkknitting #intarsiaknitting
When it’s August & the crew has the day off, the When it’s August & the crew has the day off, the only thing to do is a Knitflix marathon! I hadn’t seen the latest season of Stranger Things and had a TON of knitting to do, so we decided why not make a day of it? For non knitters, this is a pretty accurate depiction of what a dream day looks like for maker types. (Plus or minus a cranky but cute house pet.) 
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What does your dream knitting day look like? 
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Just making this for fun & to see how it feels to distill a yarn day into a short video like this. Big thank you to Jamie & Mariah for being my friends, even though they said “it’s okay if you don’t tag me in this.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 
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#knitflix #knitting #knittingwithfriends #intarsia #handsoccupied #knitsocks #chicagoknitters
Are you looking for some late summer reading picks Are you looking for some late summer reading picks? Here are 3 fresh titles for makers of all ages - full reviews are on my bl0g, along with a giveaway for a copy of Knitstrips! The 🔗 is where you’d think. 😉
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To Make by Danielle Davis (@writesinla) / Knitstrips by Alice Ormsbee Beltran & Karen Kim Mar (@ik_knitstrips) / This Long Tread by Jen Hewett (@jenhewett) 
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#summerreading #bookshelf #readingrecommendations #handsoccupied #booksformakers #craftbooks
New on the blog today! This former Librarian revie New on the blog today! This former Librarian reviews three making-related books for kids, teens & adults. And there’s a copy of one up for giveaway too! 📚 
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To Make by Danielle Davis (@writesinla) with pictures by Mags DeRoma (@magsderoma) / Knitstrips (@ik_knitstrips) by Alice Ormsbee Beltran & Karen Kim Mar / This Long Thread by Jen Hewett (@jenhewett) 
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I’ll share preview page-through videos for these this week too, but for now the written reviews are at the top of handsoccupied dot com along with my search bar if you can’t find ‘em. All giveaway details are listed in the review post. 🤙🏻 
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(^ I heard a rumor that if I tell you to exit this app, no one will see this post, so plz forgive the song & dance just in case it matters. 🙈)
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#handsoccupied #summerreading #booksformakers #booksforcrafters #books #knittersofinstagram #craftbook #knittingbook
I think about the wrong side of my intarsia knitti I think about the wrong side of my intarsia knitting kind of like some embroiderers do: I get (probably too) excited when the back’s neat and tidy. Are you this way? Is it just me? 
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Pictured is the wrong side of a large primary color intarsia swatch I knit for an upcoming design in @brooklyntweed Arbor. When I pulled it from my studio, I thanked my former self for talking the time to knit, weave in ends, & block a clean swatch already. As critical as they are, I’m excited to not have to make one today. I’ll advocate for swatching all day long, but I won’t pretend it’s like the funnest step in the process! 😆🧶
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#stopswatchandblockit #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #handsoccupied #knitincolor #knitdesign #handknits
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