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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

September 14, 2015 4 Comments

Currently Knitting | Hands Occupied

Every month, I share a roundup of 10 things to knit, featuring patterns I’d love to cast on (as soon as I find the time!). I’ve been meaning to put together a second monthly series highlighting yarns I’m working and designing with at the moment, so today we’re jumping in the deep end. Hopefully seeing a little bit of how the sausage knitting pattern is made will inspire you to try new yarns or even take a whack at designing for yourself! This month, I’ve got lots of fingering weight yarn on my needles, and the designs I’m working on are all going to be accessories. Let’s take a look at the yarn I’m working with these days.

Louet Gems Fingering yarn in Grey Sky

Louet Gems Fingering in Grey Sky

The first yarn I’ve been spending a lot of time with is Louet Gems Fingering yarn. Obviously this is a fingering weight yarn. It’s made of  100% merino wool, and it comes in 185 yd. (50 g) skeins. I’ve designed with this yarn before (my Turtle Mitts pattern is done in the same exact yarn), but this time, I’m designing a lace wrap with it!

Shibui Maai

Shibui Maai 

One of the newer yarns from Shibui, Maai is a DK weight chainette yarn that’s a blend of 70% superbaby alpaca and 30% merino wool. For those of you new to chainette yarns, they’re basically a yarn constructed like an i-cord or crochet chain from small fibers that you then knit with. The open structure of the yarn results in a less dense and highly flexible finished piece of knit fabric that is super lightweight. Maai comes in 175 yd skeins, and I’ve just about finished a new cowl pattern using this luxe, fluffy yarn.

Leading Men Fiber Arts' Soliloquy

Leading Men Fiber Arts’ Soliloquy in Poison Apple

Last but not least, I’m working with Leading Men Fiber Arts for the first time, using their Soliloquy yarn. Soliloquy is a fingering weight yarn made with 100% Superwash British Bluefaced Leicester Wool, and it comes in generous 657 yard skeins. I’m in the early design stages for a special, literary-inspired design project. Since it’s so early in the game I don’t want to give too much away, but the design I have in mind is really fun – I’m looking forward to sharing it when it’s done!

Since this is a new series, I’d love to hear what you think. Would you like to see more of this kind of post on Hands Occupied? Leave a comment & let me know!

Filed Under: Knitting, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: cowl, currently knitting, design, design process, knit design, lace, leading men fiber arts, louet gems, louet gems fingering, maai, shawl, shibui, soliloquy

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad (she/her) is a craft book author & designer specializing in yarn crafts. Her work combines vintage and modern design elements, prioritizing color and graphic motifs. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Jane rogers

    September 14, 2015 at 8:06 am

    Hi yes! Love to see new yarns and can’t wait to see what you are up to with them.
    Jane

    Reply
  2. DebbieW

    September 15, 2015 at 9:30 am

    I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for a “literary inspired project!” Seriously, these yarns look absolutely yummy!

    Reply
  3. Valerie

    September 15, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    I’ve never seen the term “superbaby alpaca” before, and now I’m picturing teeny-tiny baby alpacas. Adorable! (and probably super-soft, too!)

    Reply
  4. Joan Trautwein

    September 23, 2015 at 2:43 pm

    Yes, I do enjoy this type of informative post. There are so many new and different types of yarns now available but because I don’t really know enough about them to spend $15 to $20 + on them to sample them, I won’t buy them. Your information on the chainette yarns encourages me to give it a try. I like the idea of lightness and warmth. Also seeing what you’re working on with these different yarns gives me ideas how the finished fabric will look. That’s really important to me. Thanks.

    Reply

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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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handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer helping makers untangle various techniques with a blog & YouTube channel
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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 
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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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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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