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

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Free Patterns from the Blog

Dozens of free knitting and crochet patterns ranging from basic scarves to cabled sweaters, all designed by Heidi Gustad.

24 Randomly Sorted Patterns:

The 45-Minute Wrap – Free Arm Knitting Pattern

The 45-Minute Wrap, a free arm knitting pattern made with Zen Yarn Garden's Big Up! jumbo weight yarn.

Knit Candy Cane Ornament

Trim your tree with this free candy cane ornament knitting pattern! Knit flat and seamed, you can quickly make this keepsake ornament with yarn scraps and pipe cleaners.

Wrapping Up the 12 Ornaments of Christmas

Knit or crochet some adorable ornaments to trim your tree! Get your hands on 12 free knit and crochet patterns for Christmas ornaments. Each ornament doubles as a great gift topper & stocking stuffer!

Smiling Jack-o’-Lantern Knitting Chart for Halloween

Just in time for Halloween! Get the free knitting chart for an adorable jack-o-lantern motif with intarsia or duplicate stitch. This free knitting pattern is just so much fun!

Knit Stocking Cap Ornament – 12 Ornaments of Christmas

Get your hands on this adorable pattern for a knit stocking cap ornament! Click through for the FREE pattern.

Crochet Holly Ornament

Crochet an adorable holly ornament to hang on your tree for years to come. Get the free pattern for this quick, three dimensional ornament.

Over the Rainbow Softie – Free Crochet Pattern

Knit Heart Ornament – 12 Ornaments of Christmas

Knit Heart Ornament - Click through for a free knitting pattern for this cute star ornament, which also makes a great tree star, gift topper or baby toy!

Checked Snood – free knitting pattern

Knit yourself a quick cowl that doubles as a hood - a snood! The Checked Snood is a colorful, geometric knitting pattern that uses 3 colors of Berroco Brielle to create a stunning, versatile accessory you'll wear from fall to spring. Bonus: it's a free pattern!

Mini Christmas Stockings Pattern

Mini Christmas Stockings Pattern at HandsOccupied.com

Other People’s Houses Shawl pattern / RALKAL Kickoff!!

Knit the Other People's Houses Shawl - this first time shawl-friendly free pattern is versatile and can be knit with any yarn.

Crochet T-shirt Yarn Tote

Crochet T-shirt Yarn Tote Pattern at HandsOccupied.com

Peruvian Market Tote

Crochet yourself this versatile Peruvian Market Tote, perfect for quick trips to the store! Get the free crochet pattern.

Winter Cable Knit Beanie

Knit an adorable cable knit beanie for winter with this free pattern.

Shot Through the Heart – Knit Wall Hanging Pattern

This heart-inspired wall hanging is a fun, quick way for knitters to add a geometric blast of color and texture to your walls without having to master a whole new fiber craft like macrame or weaving. Click through for the free pattern!

Knit Star Ornament & The 12 Ornaments of Christmas

Knit Star Ornament - Click through for a free knitting pattern for this cute star ornament, which also makes a great tree star, gift topper or baby toy!

Vintage Checked Mittens

Vintage Checked Mittens at HandsOccupied.com

Crochet Bell Ornament – 12 Ornaments of Christmas

Crochet this sweet little bell ornament for your Christmas tree! - Click through for the free, quick & easy pattern!

Ripple Wrap – Free Crochet Pattern

Get your hands on the free crochet pattern for the Ripple Wrap! The Ripple Wrap is a four-color take on one of the most universally-recognized crochet stitches: the ripple stitch. Seen in afghan patterns in grandmothers' houses everywhere, the ripple stitch creates a fun zig zag pattern that opens up tons of possibilities for color combos.

Scrap Scallops Scarf – Free Crochet Pattern

Don't let your favorite scraps go to waste! Crochet the free Scrap Scallops Scarf to elegantly showcase your favorite yarns. Visit handsoccupied.com for the free pattern.

Simple Basketweave Baby Blanket

Simple Basketweave Baby Blanket - Free Knitting Pattern at Hands Occupied

Scandinavian Advent Calendar

Little Sprout Baby Hat

Little Sprout Baby Hat Knitting Pattern at handsoccupied.com

Knit Your Gift Wrap & #PHWinterWorkshop

Knit your gift wrap with this simple, free pattern that comes together in minutes!

Even more free patterns →

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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 🧶
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

Surprise, I had a baby 3 weeks ago! The pregnancy

Surprise, I had a baby 3 weeks ago! The pregnancy was high risk, so I chose to be quiet about it online until recently.

My son was born on Saturday 8/30. My water broke at 2 am, and he was born at 11:26 am, which the nurses kept telling us was very fast for a first labor. He weighed 5 lbs 14.2 oz and was 18.5” long.

My husband & I both put so much effort into educating ourselves about pregnancy and natural childbirth, and when we found out an induction was highly likely, we embraced the lack of control we had in favor of hoping the baby would arrive healthy. To our surprise, he arrived spontaneously at 37 weeks + 4 days, and the labor progressed so quickly, we did end up with a natural labor experience (which I was glad I was prepared for! 😮‍💨😅).

We’re all happy and healthy. June has become his little nanny dog and makes sure we know when he’s crying or has a dirty diaper. We are very grateful for all the love and support we’ve already received from friends and family. Much love to everyone! ❤️❤️❤️

POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern

Let’s talk about fit and ease! . During the Beve

Let’s talk about fit and ease!
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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.)
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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.
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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.
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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. :)
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #bevelledtank #handsoccupied #knitting #intarisa #handmade #kelbournewoolens #croppedsweater #summerknits

After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m ba

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.
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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.
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Blue version 💙: knit with @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Sky Blue. Paired with the 1940s Boardwalk Duet sewing pattern from @decades_of_style
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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.
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Image descriptions available in alt text.
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#handsoccupied #handmadewardrobe #fernlacepullover #vintageknitting #vintageknittingpatterns #knitting_inspiration

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