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Hands Occupied

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

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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 (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. 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 (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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