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Hands Occupied

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

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A peek inside Improper Cross-Stitch by Haley Pierson-Cox

October 11, 2018 Leave a Comment

A copy of this book was provided for review by St. Martin’s Press.

Improper Cross-Stitch by Haley Pierson-Cox is an irreverent, fun & contemporary take on an all-time classic craft. Filled with 35+ fun patterns and an accessible guide to cross-stitch, this book will have you stitching and grinning all day long!
Around here these days, I try to stick pretty closely to knitting, crochet and yarn crafts (latch hook, macrame, etc.). But when your girl writes an absolutely hi-lar-i-ous craft book about cross-stitch, you make an exception. Improper Cross-Stitch by Haley Pierson-Cox is an irreverent, fun & contemporary take on an all-time classic craft. It will have you in stitches, as they say, even if you’re new to cross-stitch.

The book comes with over 35 cross-stitch patterns, featuring everything from naughty gnomes flashing their butts to a flowery take on the F-word. Additionally, the book includes a seriously useful and informative guide to how to sew cross-stitch. I definitely learned a few new tricks from Improper Cross-Stitch, particularly for prepping my cross stitch fabric and polishing finished pieces.

Improper Cross-Stitch by Haley Pierson-Cox is an irreverent, fun & contemporary take on an all-time classic craft. Filled with 35+ fun patterns and an accessible guide to cross-stitch, this book will have you stitching and grinning all day long!
If the name Haley Pierson-Cox sounds familiar, it might be that you follow along with the podcast she, Mollie Johanson and I co-host together, Very Serious Crafts. Or maybe you know her from her days running the blog The Zen of Making, now Red-Handled Scissors. Or maybe you, like myself, were a die-hard fan of CRAFT Magazine (RIP!), the blog for which Haley was an Editor/Contributor. The woman is a beast and has a sharp sense of humor. I’m so privileged to get to work with her almost every day on Very Serious Crafts, and she’s a wonderful mentor and friend. I’m very proud of Haley for publishing her first book, which promises to be one of MANY epic, contemporary contributions to the crafts publishing universe.

Don’t forget to get your hands on your very own copy of Improper Cross-Stitch by Haley Pierson-Cox at all major book retailers. (It’s never too early to start compiling your holiday wish list!)

Improper Cross-Stitch by Haley Pierson-Cox is an irreverent, fun & contemporary take on an all-time classic craft. Filled with 35+ fun patterns and an accessible guide to cross-stitch, this book will have you stitching and grinning all day long!

A copy of this book was provided for review by St. Martin’s Press.

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Giveaways, Reviews & Sponsored Tagged With: book review, haley pierson-cox, improper cross stitch, red handled scissors

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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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

Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
🧶 Really into intarsia
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop the latest patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
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Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
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Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
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#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
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What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
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