Hands Occupied

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

cast on

Tackle 3 Advanced Knitting Cast Ons

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These advanced cast ons involve a little bit more of a song and dance to accomplish, but they allow you to do things like achieve a gorgeous & reversible edge, access your cast on stitches to use later, and make a cast on edge that stretches like no other.

Master the Knitted and Cable Cast Ons

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It’s a new year, so let’s start things off by taking a close look at different knitting cast ons. In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know to master slip knots, the Knitted Cast On, and the Cable Cast On in knitting.

Warm Up with In-Person Events this Winter!

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It’s a new year, and there’s so much to celebrate! A lot of us have cold temps as a great excuse to spend time hunkered down with needles and hooks, but if you’re looking for a cozy place to warm up in January or February, I’ve got a few ideas.

Fall/Winter Workshops!

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Learn all about the workshops scheduled for the next few months. Let knitting expert Heidi Gustad of Hands Occupied teach you how to knit from scratch, or take a more advanced class if you’re ready to level up your knitting game.

Picks of the Week

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Looking for something creative to do this weekend? Today’s picks are a good place to start.

Old Norwegian Sock Cast On

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This knitting cast on is similar to the widely-used long tail cast on, but includes an extra twist that provides added yarn to each stitch of the cast on, resulting in a stretchier cast on edge. This cast on is great for socks, mittens and sweater sleeves – really any edge you would want a little stretch for!

Knit Along Tips, Tricks & An Official Schedule

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If you’re working on (or thinking about working on) the Remy Pullover for the fall knit along, the biggest chunk of knitting you’ll need to do is week 1, the body of the sweater. In case you’re just tuning in, you can check out the first week’s post and pattern and learn how to measure and calculate the perfect fit or your pullover. Today I want to share some tips and tricks for improving your knitting technique and, for knitters who might be scared of the cabling, how to knit cables!