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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

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

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
When you have four big skeins of pretty 2 ply yarn When you have four big skeins of pretty 2 ply yarn, you immediately think sweater, right? 
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My wardrobe could use another handmade sweater - I’m thinking something simple, seamed and with a decent amount of ease for potentially wearing tucked in with jeans or skirts. 🤔 
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Yarn: @universal_yarn Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Antarctica and Dragon’s Breath, wound in thick skeins of 100% superwash wool that’s a light DK weight.
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
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