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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 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. 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), 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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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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