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Hands Occupied

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

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How I Decided on a Kia

June 12, 2013 4 Comments

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I have been a Kia owner for about 5 years, having bought my first one week after graduating from college in 2008. My parents knew I planned on staying in Michigan after school to work, try to save money, and gain some job experience. They might disagree, but I’ve always thought of my parents getting me the Kia as a way to reward working hard to graduate quickly. Also, it was totally a way to manipulate me (in a loving way!) out of any excuses not to drive home to Fargo, ND for regular visits.

How I Decided on a Kia

Why did we go with a Kia? My parents, my dad in particular, were heavily involved in the car selecting process. We knew we’d be buying a used car, and my dad and I, of course, had somewhat different priorities. I wanted a black or red car that didn’t look ancient. In high school, I was lucky enough to have access to my  parents’ sweet powder blue car from 1989 with manual locks and windows. I wanted an upgrade to go along with my shiny new diploma. My parents cared most about fuel efficiency and a high safety rating. Side curtain air bags were definitely on Dad’s must-list.

We test drove a few cars, my dad and I trying each car in town and on the highway. My dad’s 6’4″ and I’m 5’5″, so some of the cars he liked driving were ones I had a harder time seeing out of. In the end, we went with a black 2006 Kia Optima. We clocked its fuel efficiency in at 34 MPG, and its safety rating was stellar. I was happy about the Optima’s color & design, and my parents were happy sending me on my merry way back to The Mitten knowing that I was in a safe car. A safe car that I could drive home in any time.

This post is sponsored by Kia.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews & Sponsored Tagged With: cars, how i decided on a kia, kia, sponsored

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. Laura C

    June 12, 2013 at 7:43 am

    Awwww…I miss our grandma-mobiles!

    Reply
  2. Riane

    June 12, 2013 at 10:51 am

    Oh hey! I drive a Kia too (and I love it). I have the hamstermobile though. #partyrock

    Reply
  3. art

    June 21, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    Have 2 KIA`S 2007 sportage 2009 rondo fantastic cars wouldn`t buy any thing else

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. My Life, My Kia – Hands Occupied says:
    June 26, 2013 at 12:01 am

    […] have driven my Kia through a lot of important life experiences. As I told you guys a couple weeks ago, I got my car right after finishing college five years ago. My Kia and […]

    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

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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