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Hands Occupied

Contemporary yarn crafts by Heidi Gustad. Knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame.

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12 Patterns to Help Stitch Away Stress

April 11, 2016 3 Comments

12 free knit and crochet patterns to help you stitch away stress.

images via sources below

Every once in awhile, you need a good old mindless knitting or crochet project. I know I do! Something to keep your hands busy and your mind off of life’s little stressors. I haven’t really talked about this much on Hands Occupied, but this blog did get its name for a reason. While I don’t believe anxiety is unique to any group of people, I do believe many in the yarn craft community love knitting and crochet so much because it helps us deal with stuff. For me, my anxiety manifests itself in a super strong need for control and an inability to stop whatever is stressing me out from playing on loop in my head 24/7. When I knit, crochet or do any kind of crafting, the train slows down, and often times, it can be stopped altogether. Not only is yarn crafting an art, but for me, it’s a healthy coping mechanism that keeps me sane.

That’s enough opening up for me for one day, so check out these easy-to-make patterns that are perfect for helping you stitch away stress. Also! April is the Craft Yarn Council’s Stitch Away Stress Month, so if you want to check out their video featuring some knitters’ and crocheters’ positive yarn craft experiences, you can find it here.

Chocolate Truffle Scarf by Twinkie Chan

Chocolate Truffle Scarf -twinkie chan

The Top Notched Shawl - Get your hands on this fun, free & easy pattern for a square knit shawl, perfect to show off those fancy, one-skein yarns you haven't quite found the right use for!

Top Notched Shawl -hands occupied

Crochet Boot Toppers via Hello, Handy Heart

Boot Toppers -hello, handy heart

Beautyberry Blanket

Beautyberry Blanket -purl soho

Geometric Crochet Basket

Geometric Crochet Basket -persia lou

Get a free knitting pattern for an Outlander-inspired shawl, the Outlander Chevron Shawl from Hands Occupied

Outlander Chevron Shawl -hands occupied

Plait Hat by Karen Templer

Plait Hat -fringe association

A free crochet pattern & tutorial for granny square throw pillows!

Granny Square Throw Pillows -hands occupied

Toddler Rhino Hat

Rhino Hat -mama in a stitch

Granny Square Throw

Giant Granny Square Throw -makers society

Cabled Earwarmer Pattern

Cabled Ear Warmer -mom advice

Hedgehog Taggie Baby Toy

Hedgehog Taggie Baby Toy -one dog woof

Get your hands on these easy patterns to help you relax!

Filed Under: Crochet, Inspiration, Knitting, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: baby toy, basket, blanket, boot toppers, crochet, free patterns, garter stitch, granny square, Knitting, scarf, shawl, stitch away stress

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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Comments

  1. Sara A.

    April 11, 2016 at 8:08 pm

    I feel the same way about knitting. When my mother-in-law had a bad accident two summers ago, I started knitting a Multnomah shawl. When my cat took a bad turn this winter, I started an Elizabeth Zimmermann pi shawl. Conversely, sometimes working on something really complicated helps me more when I’m feeling anxious because it requires my full attention and I can emerge a pattern repeat later feeling calmer and more centered.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      April 12, 2016 at 6:29 pm

      I totally get that too! Thank you for your comment, by the way – I rarely get personal on this blog, so it’s nice to hear a response like yours! <3 - Heidi

      Reply
  2. Lynne

    April 16, 2016 at 2:35 pm

    Completely understand, Heidi. Low grade anxiety follows me through most days. I’ve gotten so I can nip panic attacks in the bud, because if I let them take hold, the resulting anxiety is miserable & sometimes lasts a long time. I learned to crochet watching a great aunt when I was 10 years old. Taught myself to knit years ago. Both help me cope & keep anxiety at bay…occupying my hands, my mind & ruminating thoughts. :-} We all need our escapes from a sometimes crazy world…reading, writing, crafting, music, nature…these are mine. I’m glad you found your comfy, cozy, calm niche too. Big hugs, hon!

    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, an author, yarn craft designer and content creator specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. My work unapologetically features primary colors and vintage-meets-modern style. My first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is now available!

Professionally I’m most known for: advanced intarsia knitting design & modern latch hook design.

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Craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. / #latchhookbook out now!
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knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
A new YouTube tutorial is live today covering how A new YouTube tutorial is live today covering how to knit the Little Butterfly Stitch (aka Bowknot Stitch). It adds so much cute character to simple stockinette. Only a little funky to knit, and it packs a huge visual punch! 🦋 
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Find the video & written stitch pattern on the blog and YouTube, links are in bio. 
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#kpambassadorsfeb21 #sponsored
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Yarn: @kelbournewoolens Germantown in Baby Blue via @knit_picks. Needles: Prism Interchangeables, also from Knit Picks. 
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Pictured: a light blue swatch of Little Butterfly Stitch knitting on a pink background. A skein of yarn and a few stitches of knitting are nearby.
“You’re telling me words can be pronounced in “You’re telling me words can be pronounced in different ways and mean the same things?!” 👀 Posting this here, just to make it clear: when anyone says skayne, skeen, or skyne, it can be safely assumed we’re talking about a bundle o’ yarn,  a SKEIN. It’s not necessary to shame someone for using a word that is known to have MULTIPLE common pronunciations. 🧶
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Can you plz comment sharing how you say SKEIN and where you learned it? The OED happens to say SKAYNE, but it’s not a personal attack if someone says SKEEN and you say SKYNE or even Saskatoon. I’m legitimately curious. We don’t all knit or crochet the same way, and craft evolves a bit like language - it is passed on. There is so much value in having conversations about & embracing these variations! ✌🏻
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Pictured: A blond woman holds a skein of mustard yellow yarn up to her head like a phone, looking shocked. She’s wearing glasses & a knit sweater. 
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#handsoccupied #heidigustad #skein #yarn #yarncraft #knit #crochet #yarnaddict #knitincolor #soldotnacrop #language #englishisweird #oed #oxfordenglishdictionary
Sometimes my weekend projects involve hair rather Sometimes my weekend projects involve hair rather than yarn. Here’s the latest mediocre-but-improving result of my slow quest to learn to set vintage inspired curls. 💇🏼‍♀️ I’m hoping to be able to wash my hair less using a regular vintage set, but we’ll see if it ends up being practical. 😆 Hair frustrates me so much more than crafts! 
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Do you also style your hair using vintage methods? If you have any tips for vintage hair styling or good resources to share, please do!
I suppose this is one way to decide what yarn colo I suppose this is one way to decide what yarn color suits your pooch. 😆 Navy really might be Woodrow‘s color - what do you think? 
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Pictured: A medium sized, brown, senior dog asleep on a green bed. For some reason a donut ball of navy wool yarn sits on his head.
The first stitch tutorial of the new year is live The first stitch tutorial of the new year is live on YouTube! Diamond Brocade is a great knit+purl only stitch for beginners or anyone wanting a classic look for their knitting project. Find the video with a written stitch pattern on the blog or head directly to the video on YouTube. Both are linked in bio. ✌🏻 
#kpambassadorsfeb21 #sponsored
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