• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

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

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • YouTube

How to: Statistics Cross Stitch Inspired by Amy Sedaris

February 7, 2011 Leave a Comment

Last Christmas, I wasn’t able to finish the socks I had intended to give my fiance as a gift, so I had to get creative. Scoping out the new Amy Sedaris book, Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People, I noticed a section called Crafting Statistics on page 19. According to Sedaris and her publishers, the top 5 uses for crafts are:

CRAFTING STATISTICS
How Are We Using Our Crafts?
1. Camper decorations
2. Old people presents
3. Chew toy
4. Dust accumulator
5. As evidence that we don’t spend all our time doing absolutely noting
6. Salvaged for parts to make other crafts

Having only seen the stats page in Amazon’s preview mode, I thought the image used to represent craft statistics on the page was a cross stitch. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was thread and pushpins, but who cares? I was inspired to make my Statistician fiance his own framed cross stitch.

I winged it on the pattern, which led to some tearing out of stitches here and there, but I think it turned out great. In a Gift of the Magi-esque turn of events, my fiance got me my very own copy of Simple Times for Christmas. “Aww” is right.
—
On a final note, don’t forget to buy yourself a copy of this book or check it out from your local library. You should also check out Amy Sedaris’s YouTube channel. Here’s a taste of what you’re in for:

Filed Under: How-to Tagged With: amy sedaris, cross stitch, How-to, simple times: crafts for poor people

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!

Previous Post: « How-to: Wedding Fascinator
Next Post: How to: Ribbon Wands »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • Attention, DIY Brides & Handmade Hostesses!Attention, DIY Brides & Handmade Hostesses!
  • Top 10 DIYs of 2013Top 10 DIYs of 2013
  • How-to: Turn a Scarf into a Headband (without destroying It)How-to: Turn a Scarf into a Headband (without destroying It)
  • How-to: Fake Flower AccessoriesHow-to: Fake Flower Accessories

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

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.

UPDATES BY EMAIL

Monthly highlights sent to your inbox.

Find Me Elsewhere, If You’re There

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

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

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
If you look closely, you’ll see I’m casually k If you look closely, you’ll see I’m casually knitting from one sweater into another here, no big deal. (What can I say, I lost a game of yarn chicken. 😂) I almost didn’t post this because I was worried someone might have some nonsense to say about my ability to knit. Then I remembered I can’t care about that. Silly me, I almost forgot myself! 
.
Speaking of which, dang it’s good to have my mental health back consistently after the past couple of years. The anxious parts of my personality are just chilling, rather than constantly screaming that my work isn’t good enough to share. The confident parts of me that matter have me creating (and starting to share my creations & process with strangers and friends) again! 
.
Anybody else feel like they are beginning to return to themselves, so to speak, this spring?
I’m feeling better, & all my [big, bad bug] proj I’m feeling better, & all my [big, bad bug] project needs is a couple of short sleeves! I’ll be finishing this sweater *just* before it gets too warm to wear, but isn’t that always how it goes? 🫠🧶 
.
#knittersofinstagram #soldotnacrop #handsoccupied #knitincolor #springknitting
Just divided the sleeves on this quick sweater, wh Just divided the sleeves on this quick sweater, which has unsurprisingly turned into a love letter to primary colors. ❤️💛💙 The heart stripe is a wee tweak I incorporated, and I don’t regret it! 
.
 #handsoccupied #soldotnacrop #strandedcolorwork #knitting #yokesweater
I am unfortunately home bound for the near future I am unfortunately home bound for the near future thanks to the big, bad bug. So far I’ve knit half a sweater, consumed about a gallon of ginger tea, & plowed through 3 seasons of Pit Bulls and Parolees. 
.
June doesn’t understand why I’m suddenly so boring, but she seems to like watching animal planet. 🤷🏼‍♀️
A bit of Saturday swatching. 🧶 I am working in A bit of Saturday swatching. 🧶 I am working in greyscale today to practice designing “without color”. Kinda cool, kinda weird. We’ll see if it yields anything interesting! 😆
.
#intarsia #intarsiaknitting #stopswatchandblockit #handsoccupied #knittersofinstagram
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy