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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

January 21, 2016 Leave a Comment

January Sponsor Spotlight at Hands Occupied

Bijou Basin Ranch / PostStitch

I couldn’t do what I do here as a blogger without the support of the yarn community. From you, the readers, to the yarn and other needlearts companies I’ve been able to partner with, I love running this blog. To honor their support of our yarny cause here on Hands Occupied, I like to take some time out each month to thank our advertising sponsors. We’re kicking off 2016 with two companies who have been amazing supporters and creative partners, and I’m excited to get to tell you a little about them.

Bijou Basin Ranch

Ruby, one of the Bijou Basin Ranch yak herd!

Ruby, one of the Bijou Basin Ranch yaks

I love Bijou Basin Ranch. I love the folks who run the company and the ranch, I love their yarn, I love their yaks. Last summer I designed a pattern with their Himalayan Trail yarn, my Delta Hat. In addition to doing an appearance at Bijou Basin Ranch’s Stitches Midwest booth, I hosted a knit along featuring the pattern. Then, I got to visit Bijou Basin Ranch itself on a trip to Colorado. The company is run by the nicest people, and I really do love their yarns. Heck, I’ve done two free shawl patterns (the Outlander Chevron Shawl & the Top Notched Shawl) with their yarn on top of the big Delta Hat pattern we did the KAL with. If you’re new to yak yarn, I highly recommend it!

PS: It’s easier than ever to try Bijou Basin Ranch yarns. In honor of this sponsorship, they’re offering free shipping when you use promo code HANDSOCCUPIED at checkout. 

Bijou Basin Ranch Yarns

Since my love of yaks can’t be overstated, I’ll use this as an excuse to share the yak documentary I made while visiting the Bijou Basin Ranch yaks in person last summer in Colorado. Just in case you missed it! :)

PostStitch

Funkasonic Mittens in progress via PostStitch

Funkasonick Mittens in progress via PostStitch on Instagram

Both sponsors this month are companies I’ve done knit alongs with, which is a total coincidence. PostStich, a longtime sponsor of Hands Occupied (thanks, guys!), is the company we’ve partnered with on our current Funkasonic Knit Along. I love PostStitch. They send you boxes of yarn, patterns and all the goodies you need to make a new pattern every month (plus some extra surprises knitters love like cuticle cream). Their community of knitters have been really fun to knit with and add to the mix of Hands Occupied knitters.

If you’re looking to grow your knitting skills this year, I recommend considering a PostStitch subscription if you haven’t yet. You get all those supplies to knit a new project each month, but since all the other PostStitch knitters are working on the same project each month, you can totally ask your fellow PostStitch peeps for help when you get stuck. It’s really fun to knit your way through a project you might find challenging when you’ve got some friends to help you out!

"Do more of what makes you happy." knitting project bag via PostStitch

Did PostStitch just find the most perfect knitting bag? via Instagram

Filed Under: Sponsor Spotlight Tagged With: bijou basin ranch, coupon code, poststitch, sponsor spotlight, sponsors

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!

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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 & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style . How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style 
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In knitting, there are a few common knitting styles. Most often you’re going to encounter continental style and English (throwing) style on your knitting journey. I recently had an old video teaching continental style get a lot of views. Based on the comments, it was clear the people wanted to also see a throwing tutorial, so here you go! 🧶
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Please note that there is a LOT of variation in knitting styles, and one isn’t necessarily better than another. Most often, I’ve found it comes down to two things: how you were taught and whether or not you’re really into colorwork knitting (which can involve a mix of styles). 
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Longer-term knitters who’ve made it this far: do you prefer one over the other? And why? 
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#handsoccupied #englishknitting #learntoknit #knitting #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitting_inspiration
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
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I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
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I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
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The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
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I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
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What’s on your needles this week? 
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Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
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I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
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#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
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