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Hands Occupied

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The Read Along Crochet Along is here!

April 2, 2018 3 Comments

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!

Get the Pattern / Join the Ravelry Group / Does your library have The Beekeeper’s Apprentice?

As promised, the Read Along Crochet Along is here! Folks who preordered the Worker Bee Bag received the pattern in their inboxes yesterday, some people have been chatting in the Ravelry Group, and books have been opened. For those who missed the announcement last month, we have just kicked off the first-ever Read Along Crochet Along, so throughout the month of April, everyone is welcome to crochet the Worker Bee Bag and read & discuss The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King. The pattern was inspired by the book we’re reading too – it’s really fun!

Say what now?

What’s a crochet along?

For any folks out there who are new to “-alongs” (meaning a knit along or crochet along or stitch along), let me give you a brief overview of what’s happening here. First off, these things are often abbreviated CAL or KAL, for Crochet Along or Knit Along. What happens during an “-along” is this: for a predetermined period of time, a group of crocheters (or knitters or sewists) make the same project/pattern at the same time. It’s a fun way to share in the making experience with fellow craft nerds enthusiasts, and you can share progress and ask for help if you run into issues during the crafting process. Hands Occupied -alongs have been everything from how to make cuff down socks from start to finish to last fall’s mystery knit along inspired by The Night Circus. (BTW, mystery “-alongs” are very popular and add an extra layer of fun. You receive part of your pattern every week or so, so you can’t work ahead of the rest of the group doing the KAL.) In the end “-alongs” are a fun way to make crafting more social and help hold you accountable with a deadline to motivate a speedy finish to your project.

Where does the Read Along part come in?

The Read Along concept is an original of mine. I feel like it’s time to say that in print based on the amount of times people message me on my Ravelry or Instagram saying, “I’ve never done a Read Along before! Do you know of any other folks who do these?” Love the enthusiasm, but no I don’t, because I invented this idea. ;) There are so many knitters and crocheters who also love books, and I love listening to audiobooks while I craft. After leaving my career as a Librarian (more on that here) to focus on running Hands Occupied full time, I wanted to do something to capture the fun feeling of running library book groups, but give it a yarny twist. And the Read Alongs were born.

Each fall and spring, I now release a pattern inspired by the book we read & discuss during the RALCAL. As of this year, I’ve decided each fall will be our Read Along Knit Along, and we’ll do our RALCAL every spring. PS: I’m in the midst of finalizing details for the fall RALKAL already, and in planning stages for spring 2019. To see past Read Along posts, check out this blog post archive. :)

RALCAL Logistics

Reading/Discussion

To help us avoid spoilers and keep up with our reading pace, below is a schedule of where to read in The Beekeeper’s Apprentice each week. It breaks down pretty nicely in our one-month timeline (April 1-30). Just make sure not to discuss anything past the listed stopping point in the Ravelry Group until the appropriate week. For example, please don’t discuss anything that happens after Book 1 until April 18.

  • April 1-7: Prelude & Book 1
  • April 8-14: Book 2
  • April 15-21: Book 3
  • April 22-30 Book 4 & Postlude

PS: In The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, the book is broken up into “books” instead of parts.

Overall

Just as a refresher, here’s an overview of how the RALCAL will all be paced out:

  • 4/1: Worker Bee Bag crochet pattern goes live
  • Throughout the RALCAL, I’ll be publishing blog posts related to the pattern, including tutorials, inspiration and a fun look behind-the-scenes at the design process.
  • The RALCAL giveaway (more on that below) runs 4/1 through 11:59 p.m. on 4/30. The winner will be contacted 5/2 and announced in the 5/4 Picks of the Week post.
  • The RALCAL runs during the month of April, having kicked off Sunday, April 1, and it ends on Monday, April 30.
  • This is NOT a mystery crochet along, so when you buy the pattern, you get the whole thing all at once.
  • Read Along In Real Life meetups will be at Chicago’s Firefly Fiber Arts on Fridays from 4-8 p.m. during the crochet along: 4/6, 4/13, 4/20 & 4/27. We’ll wrap up the RAIRL at our 4/27 meet up and draw the in-person prize winner. (If you’re in the Chicago area, visit this post to read all about our Read Along IRL meetups.)
  • Official hashtags for the Read Along are: #readalongIRL & #RALCAL, and the pattern hashtag is #workerbeebag.

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!

A HUGE Giveaway!

We have some really spectacular prizes for everyone participating in the Read Along Crochet Along this spring. Why Knot Fibers donated a skein of their Spunky yarn in the Smoke and Shadows colorway, Love & Leche gave us one of their lovely lotion bars (appropriately made with beeswax), Jul Designs contributed a set of their amazing bag handles, and Darn Good Yarn donated one of their handmade wooden yarn bowls (the very yarn bowl I myself use)!

To enter the giveaway, use the box below. If you’re on mobile, you’ll have to click a button or visit this page to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway prizes provided by Why Knot Fibers, Darn Good Yarn, Jul Designs, and Love & Leche. 

Filed Under: Crochet, Knit Along Tagged With: crochet along, ralcal, read along crochet along, the beekeeper's apprentice, worker bee bag

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad (she/her) is a craft book author & designer specializing in yarn crafts. Her work combines vintage and modern design elements, prioritizing color and graphic motifs. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Cindy G

    April 2, 2018 at 9:16 pm

    I am so excited to get started! But, I’ll be a week behind because I have grades due and a HUGE stack of papers that need grading. I also haven’t located my book, so if I can find my library card (or get to the library for a replacement), I can borrow it… Although I might buy a new copy and then pass it along when I’m finished (if I find my original copy, I’ll pass that one along as a gift). Now that I know it’s a series, I have a feeling I’ll want to keep a copy for myself anyway. I’ll make sure to pop in to Ravelry once I’m caught up :)

    Reply
    • Heidi

      April 3, 2018 at 9:58 am

      Great! We’ll be ready for you. :)

      Reply
  2. Laurel Robbins

    April 7, 2018 at 10:16 am

    My very first ever CAL – love it!

    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), 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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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts

handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer 🧶
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern fits with no ease vs. 4” of positive ease. There’s a bit more length to the cotton (brighter color) sample, but both are cropped and feature shoulder seams designed to sit an inch back onto the shoulder instead of on top, giving it a little swing. Length is easily adjustable for folks looking for less of a crop. 
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Pattern: Bevelled Tank by @handsoccupied for @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn summer 2024. Available for free from Hobbii at the 🔗 in my profile.
Yarn pictured: @kelbournewoolens Skipper and Camper. 
Dress form is adjusted to a 36” chest and ~5’3”ish in height. 
Human has a 40” chest and is 5’5”.
Both skirts are vintage.
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #handsoccupied #intarsia #handmade #knitting #colorwork
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 After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m back with a brand new pattern in 9 sizes, and it’s FREE as part of @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn’s summer design collection! (Link is in my bio.)
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In my December newsletter, I announced that I was soliciting test knitters for a pattern that had originally been selected for the summer ’24 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly magazine. However, the magazine ceased publication after its spring ’24 issue, leaving in-progress designs unpublished. (It happens.) As a result, I’d begun the long process of editing, testing, and photographing the pattern for independent release through the Hands Occupied pattern shop and Ravelry.
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Before I was done with that process, Pom Pom Quarterly’s former editors reached out with an exciting proposal for the pattern. Post-magazine, they’ve begun to partner with yarn companies to produce high quality pattern collections. They wanted to include designs from the would-be current issue of Pom Pom Quarterly in a new collection for Hobbii yarn, including my Bevelled Tank. I worked with the same technical editors I would have for the magazine on this one, and as you can see from the photos, Pom Pom’s team did an amazing job of styling the garment to the beautiful standards they’re known for.
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You can learn more about the pattern on my blog and get the free pattern from Hobbii yarn - links to both in my profile. I’ll post sizing info in the comments for quick reference too. 🧶
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #knitting #intarsia #sponsored #colorworkknitting 
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Photos: @dianascarrunz 
Model: @angel.jade_
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
Frogging is a word in the knitting world that mean Frogging is a word in the knitting world that means to rip out your knitting. It’s called frogging because frogs say “ribbit,” and when you’re tearing out your knitting, you will “rip it” out, and that sounds like ribbit. No really. 🐸 Did you know this fun fact? 
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P.S. I did like this design concept, but to make the pattern more knitter friendly as well as more wearable, I am making some tweaks to the construction. Excited to share when it’s ready! 🥰🧶
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Yarn: @blueskyfibers Woolstok North in Morning Frost & Highland Fleece 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #frogging #blueskyfibers #knittersofinstagram #blueskymakers #knittingvocabulary #bsfmakers #knitdesign
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