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Hands Occupied

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

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books

Learn about Skeins in the Stacks, a bookish yarn company that makes hand-dyed yarns using natural elements from Alaska.

Skeins in the Stacks Review & Giveaway

November 20, 2017 2 Comments

If you didn’t end up getting lucky enough to win the big giveaway for the Read Along Knit Along, I have some bookish-meets-yarnish good news! I’ve teamed up with indie yarn company Skeins in the Stacks to bring you a second chance to win some awesome yarn.

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

A look back at 2015 & what’s in store for 2016

January 5, 2016 2 Comments

Let’s start 2016 by taking a look back how I did with my 2015 goals, and then we can look at the year ahead and what I’ve got in store for all you yarn lovers!

Plans & Goals for 2015 | Hands Occupied

Plans & Goals for 2015

January 14, 2015 3 Comments

I feel really good about finding my feet as a designer in 2014, so of course I want to keep growing and improving with this momentum. On that note, I have a few 2015 goals I want to share with you guys.

Crush Creative Demons with Mighty Ugly at HandsOccupied.com

Crush Creative Demons with Make It Mighty Ugly

September 24, 2014 Leave a Comment

Make It Mighty Ugly: Exercises and Advice for Getting Creative Even When It Ain’t Pretty is a book by OG internet crafting mover and shaker Kim Werker. This book is all about helping readers understand what creative demons are, why we might have them, and – importantly – how to identify, confront and overcome them.

25 Bookish Crafts to Get Excited for Summer Reading at handsoccupied.com

25 Bookish Crafts to Get Excited for Summer Reading

June 5, 2014 Leave a Comment

In the spirit of summer reading starting soon at my library, I rounded up some of my favorite bookish crafts for you to check out, pin and try for yourself! I’ve got tons of friggin adorable card catalog makeovers and DIYs, and so many discarded book projects below. So worth checking out. ;)

The Ultimate Mother's Day Gift Basket at Hands Occupied

The Ultimate Mother’s Day Gift Basket

May 1, 2014 1 Comment

What woman doesn’t love wine, chocolate, and a good book? When I found out I’d be teaming up with Dove® to design a Mother’s Day gift, I immediately texted my mom to get her input. She literally had their dark chocolate almond Promises in her purse when I texted. “That’s the good stuff!!” was her initial reaction. :) According to my mom, this chocolate goes great with red wine, so I figured I better listen to my mom and make a mother’s day gift the woman REALLY wants!

DIY Library Pockets for Lending Your Personal Library or Kids' Play

DIY Library Pockets

January 15, 2014 5 Comments

Lend items from your personal library in style with old school DIY library pockets.

Weekly Reader

May 31, 2013 Leave a Comment

Check out what I’m into this week and what you may have missed!

Weekly Reader 5/10/13 at HandsOccupied.com

Weekly Reader

May 10, 2013 Leave a Comment

The best projects of the week, books you should read and a Parks & Rec animated GIF.

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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

Yarn craft designer & author. Into intarsia knits, latch hook, color & vintage-modern style.
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👇🏻 Book, Patterns, Tutorials

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
If you look closely, you’ll see I’m casually k If you look closely, you’ll see I’m casually knitting from one sweater into another here, no big deal. (What can I say, I lost a game of yarn chicken. 😂) I almost didn’t post this because I was worried someone might have some nonsense to say about my ability to knit. Then I remembered I can’t care about that. Silly me, I almost forgot myself! 
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Speaking of which, dang it’s good to have my mental health back consistently after the past couple of years. The anxious parts of my personality are just chilling, rather than constantly screaming that my work isn’t good enough to share. The confident parts of me that matter have me creating (and starting to share my creations & process with strangers and friends) again! 
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Anybody else feel like they are beginning to return to themselves, so to speak, this spring?
I’m feeling better, & all my [big, bad bug] proj I’m feeling better, & all my [big, bad bug] project needs is a couple of short sleeves! I’ll be finishing this sweater *just* before it gets too warm to wear, but isn’t that always how it goes? 🫠🧶 
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#knittersofinstagram #soldotnacrop #handsoccupied #knitincolor #springknitting
Just divided the sleeves on this quick sweater, wh Just divided the sleeves on this quick sweater, which has unsurprisingly turned into a love letter to primary colors. ❤️💛💙 The heart stripe is a wee tweak I incorporated, and I don’t regret it! 
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 #handsoccupied #soldotnacrop #strandedcolorwork #knitting #yokesweater
I am unfortunately home bound for the near future I am unfortunately home bound for the near future thanks to the big, bad bug. So far I’ve knit half a sweater, consumed about a gallon of ginger tea, & plowed through 3 seasons of Pit Bulls and Parolees. 
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June doesn’t understand why I’m suddenly so boring, but she seems to like watching animal planet. 🤷🏼‍♀️
A bit of Saturday swatching. 🧶 I am working in A bit of Saturday swatching. 🧶 I am working in greyscale today to practice designing “without color”. Kinda cool, kinda weird. We’ll see if it yields anything interesting! 😆
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#intarsia #intarsiaknitting #stopswatchandblockit #handsoccupied #knittersofinstagram
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