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Hands Occupied

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

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Sponsor Spotlight

March 24, 2016 Leave a Comment

March Sponsor Spotlight at Hands Occupied

Bijou Basin Ranch / Feel Good Yarn Co.

I’m so excited to have two favorite yarn companies as our sponsors this month! Each company makes yarns that feature special ingredients: Bijou Basin Ranch uses yak fiber in many of their yarns, and Feel Good Yarn Co. uses pure silver. I think that’s why I love working with both of them: any time I get to use unusual fibers, I love the refreshing change of pace! Let’s take a closer look at my favorite picks from both companies and some of my favorite snaps from their Instagram feeds too!

Feel Good Yarn Co.

 Trillium Mitts in SilverSpun

Trillium Mitts in SilverSpun by Chelsea Berkompas

Feel Good Yarn Company makes yarn wound with actual silver, rendering it conductive. Their SilverSpun Sport and Sock yarns are both a blend of 87% combed cotton/5% silver/5% nylon/3% spandex, making the yarn springy and relatively lightweight too. I find the springiness fun to knit with, and finished SilverSpun projects have a subtle earthiness to them that I really like.

In addition to recommending trying SilverSpun if you’re new to the yarn, I have great news! I have a pattern coming out using SilverSpun in the next couple weeks. If you want to get your hands on a skein of SilverSpun Sport or the kit they made for my DIY Touchscreen Gloves (which is just $12 & comes with a project bag!), you’ll have the yarn on hand for when the pattern comes out. I can’t wait to share the new pattern and some new tutorial videos to help you make them for yourself! :)

A behind-the-scenes look at SilverSpun being wound

A behind-the-scenes look at SilverSpun being wound

Bijou Basin Ranch

Bijou Basin Ranch yarns dyed by ModeKnit Yarns!

The latest Bijou Spun colorways from ModeKnit Yarns

You all know I love Bijou Basin Ranch. I have designed with them a few times, I’ve visited the actual Bijou Basin Ranch itself, and I’m obsessed with their yaks. But one thing I haven’t written too much about is BBR’s commitment to working with independent dyers to bring amazing color to their amazing yarns! Right now in particular, they have a whole line of Bijou Spun yarn colors hand dyed in St. Paul, MN by ModeKnit Yarns. If you love color as much as I do, you’ll love this line.

PS: Get your hands on some of these awesome, new colors with free Bijou Basin Ranch shipping by using HANDSOCCUPIED at checkout.

A balled skein of Bijou Basin Ranch's Tibetan Dream Yarn dyed by Miss Babs

A wound skein of Tibetan Dream dyed by Miss Babs

Filed Under: Sponsor Spotlight Tagged With: bijou basin ranch, bijou spun yarn, feel good yarn, feel good yarn company, modeknit yarns, silverspun, sponsor spotlight, tibetan dream

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

Craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admitte Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admittedly insane) intarsia project. One day, this will be a seamed sweater, but today is not that day. 🧶 
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Have a good weekend, everyone! 
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Yarn: @universal_yarn’s Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Antarctica & Dragon’s Breath 
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#handsoccupied #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #wip #knitting
Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for e Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for easier continental style knitting. With this purling method, the working yarn says tensioned (held) at the back of your knitting at all times. For many knitters, always holding the yarn at the back helps with tension issues, as well as feeling a little more comfortable. 
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Have you ever encountered this style of purling before? If you’ve tried it, have you found it helps with your purl tension and knitting speed? I’m curious.
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For a written tutorial, visit handsoccupied-dot-com. For video, you guessed it, You2be. Both of these platforms allow for longer, more in-depth versions of this tutorial, including full transcripts, alt text & the ability to pause, slow down or speed up at will. (Like if you really want to learn this, I recommend using a platform that doesn’t keep your hands occupied. Thinking of putting this in all my captions these days tbh - shout out to you if you made it this far. 🙌🏻😂)
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#handsoccupied #learntoknit #continentalknitting #howtoknit #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #knit #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #knittinghack  #handknitting #handknit #norwegianpurling
Have you ever tried this style of purl? . All thi Have you ever tried this style of purl? 
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All this recent talk about throwing vs. continental style knitting made it clear many people struggle with purling in continental knitting. Turns out that Norway may have the answer! In Norwegian purling, the working yarn stays tensioned at the back at all times, helping with speed and tension. 🤯
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Head to the bl0g (🔗 in bi0) for a more in-depth look at how to work a Norwegian purl stitch, including a photo tutorial with animated GIF & a video tutorial. Wrapping your mind around how to work a stitch you’re familiar with in a totally new way can be confusing, so I tried to give a few options for clarity. 🤙🏻 Video is also on You2be. 
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#handsoccupied #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #norwegianpurling #continentalknitting #howtoknit #learntoknit #knitterofinstagram #knitters
It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or reintroduced myself, so here goes! I’m Heidi Gustad, a craft book author, pattern designer, and tutorial creator who specializes in yarn crafts. Lately, I’ve been focused on releasing quality knitting videos and related blog posts to help teach things like the difference between provisional cast ons and how to fix common knitting mistakes. Next week I’m shooting requested crochet and latch hook videos, so h👀kers, your time is coming! And if you ever have tutorial requests, please let me know. ☺️
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TLDR: I’m Heidi. I design & teach yarn crafts. You can find tutorials on my blog (est. 2010) & You2be. I also have several knitting & crochet patterns + a book about latch hook available. / All of these can be found on my website, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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#handsoccupied #fridayintroduction #heidigustad #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #yarncrafts #latchhookbook
Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Contine Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Continental or English Style? Here’s a quick overview of the differences between the two most common knitting styles, including a side by side comparison. (A good one to save for future reference. 👍🏻) 
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There’s more on the differences between picking and throwing in my latest blog post & You 2ube video - the l1nk is where you’d think!
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#handsoccupied #learntoknit #knittingstyles #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitter
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