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Hands Occupied

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

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Knit & Crochet Along!

Knit alongs (KALs) & crochet alongs (CALs) are so much fun to participate in, especially if you’re looking to you up your knitting or crochet skills while making a finished project you’ll love. On this page, you can read about all of the “Alongs” we’ve done over the years!

September-October 2018

Intarsia Mountain by Heidi Gustad is a knitting pattern worked primarily in garter stitch and features a beautiful landscape formed using color and geometric lines.

Read Along Knit Along: The Snow Child: Intarsia Mountain pattern / Yarn support: Why Knot Fibers / Finished object: The Scarf of Dreams / Get all of the posts here. / #ralkal  #IntarsiaMountain #ReadAlongIRL / This was our third Read Along with a weekly in-person meetup in addition to our regular blog posts and online discussion. / This was our first Read Along with additional meetups on the fourth Wednesday of the month at Chicago’s Logan Theater, and our first with a workshop related to the pattern. 

April 2018

Crochet the Worker Bee Bag & Worker Bee Clutch during the Read Along Crochet Along, April 1-30! This adorable bag uses filet crochet, baubles, and elongated stitches to create a fun, textural piece perfect for spring!
Read Along Crochet Along: The Beekeeper’s Apprentice: Worker Bee Bag pattern / Yarn support: Why Knot Fibers / Finished object: The Scarf of Dreams / Get all of the posts here. / #ralcal  #workerbeebag #ReadAlongIRL / This was our second Read Along with a weekly in-person meetup in addition to our regular blog posts and online discussion.

October 2017

The Scarf of Dreams knitting pattern by Heidi Gustad, inspired by The Night Circus
Read Along Knit Along: The Night Circus: The Scarf of Dreams pattern / Yarn support: Leading Men Fiber Arts / Finished object: The Scarf of Dreams / Get all of the posts here. / #ralkal #ralkalirl / This was our first Read Along with a weekly in-person meetup in addition to our regular blog posts and online discussion.

March 2017

Rick & Roll Socks by Heidi Gustad - Try out this colorful, fun-to-make and beginner-friendly sock knitting pattern!

Read Along Knit Along: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: Rick & Roll Socks pattern / Partners: Colorpurl & Yarnbox / Finished object: Rick & Roll Socks / Get all of the posts here. / #ralkal #tglappps

January 2017

Exquisite Mystery Shawl pattern

Exquisite Mystery KAL: Exquisite Mystery pattern / Partners: Dream in Color Yarn, Sarah Bear Crafts and Renegade Knitwear / Finished object: Exquisite Mystery Shawl / Get all of the posts here. / #exquisiteMKAL

October 2016

Read and knit along with Heidi from Hands Occupied!

The Read Along Knit Along: Other People’s Houses Shawl / Partner: Louet / Finished object: Center out drop stitch shawl / Get all of the posts here. / #RALKAL

January 2016

Knit the Funkasonic Mittens & Funkasonic Mukluks to keep toasty this winter!

Funkasonic Mittens & Funkasonic Mukluks / Partners: PostStitch & Ewe Ewe Yarns / Finished objects: stripes mittens & mukluk style slipper socks knit cuff down / Get all of the posts here. / #funkasonicKAL

August 2015

Check out the Delta Hat, an asymmetrical cloche that's a blast to knit!

The Delta Hat / August 2015 KAL / Sponsor: Bijou Basin Ranch / Finished object: Asymmetrical cloche hat / available in one size / Get all of the posts here. / #deltahatKAL

Spring 2015

Spring Meadow Scarf Knit Along - Hands Occupied for All Free Knitting

The Spring Meadow Scarf / Spring 2015 KAL Heidi hosted for AllFreeKnitting / Sponsor: Red Heart Yarn / Finished object: A spring lace scarf / Sizes available: one size / Get all of the tutorials here. / #springmeadowKAL

Fall 2014

The Remy Pullover Sweater by Hands Occupied

The Remy Pullover / Fall 2014 KAL / Sponsor: Lion Brand Yarn / Finished object: A bottom-up raglan sweater / Sizes available: XS-XXL / Get all of the tutorials here. / #fall2014KAL

Spring 2014

Shorty Socks Knitting Pattern at handsoccupied.com

Shorty Socks / Spring 2014 KAL / Finished object: Cuff-down socks / Sizes available: one size with instructions for calculating your own / Get all of the tutorials here. / #spring2014KAL

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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
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
If only knitting a whole project took 39 seconds… 😮‍💨 
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In this video, you can see how the Intarsia Flower Pillow pattern knits up - two flat panels, one with intarsia, both are blocked, and then they’re seamed. Find the pattern on @hi.ravelry & my website, just search Intarsia Flower Pillow. 🌸 
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P.S. I’m really smiling in this video while seaming the pillow, so I guess I’m proving last week’s claim that I truly enjoy that sometimes-dreaded task. 😆🫣
In knitting, a Left Lifted Increase (LLI) lets you In knitting, a Left Lifted Increase (LLI) lets you add a stitch in between two columns of stitches that leans to the left. Similar to an M1L, LLIs allow you to increase nearly invisibly.
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To learn more about lifted increases, including when to use them and how they differ from Make 1s, head to the 🔗 in my profle. 
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Have you ever used lifted increases? I used M1’s almost exclusively for a long time when I needed to inc between stitches, but when I designed the Intarsia Flower Pillow pattern, I needed something that would allow me to increase a lot near my cast on, and M1’s resulted in edge curling. The more you know! 🌈 
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Yarn: @lionbrandyarn Wool Ease from my Stash / Neddles: @boyeyarncrafts - Just remembered these are the needles I learned to knit on at age 8. 😂
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#handsoccupied #knitting #learntoknit #howtoknit #sweaterknitting #knitinspiration #knittersofinstagram #liftedincreases
Last week I got to hang out with my family & helpe Last week I got to hang out with my family & helped babysit my red-headed niece and nephew. So here’s some plane knitting, and a couple pictures (shared with permission) of my babysitting adventures.
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Lessons learned: 1️⃣ Trying to knit around 2 toddlers, 2 cats & 2 large dogs is pretty hard. 2️⃣ I learned during water color time that pink and black make “colorful black.” 🩷🖤 3️⃣ Toddlers do NOT care about your rainbow sorting of their toys. 4️⃣ Toddlers are very good at finding mischief in a very short amount of time, what a surprise. 😂
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#handsoccupied #knitting #placesyoucanknit #knitters #knitinpublic #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration
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