• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

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

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • YouTube

crafts

Weekly Reader 03.21.14 | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

March 21, 2014 3 Comments

Easter is super late this year, on April 20, but that just means there’s extra time to fit in some springy Easter goodness! I haven’t usually gone all out on Easter crafts in the past – the closest I’ve gotten are chocolate eggs made in egg shells, and this crazy (yet I love it so hard) astro turf peter pan collar. 2014 might need to be the year I go eggs-out on the Easter crafting!

Weekly Reader 03.14.14 | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

March 14, 2014 1 Comment

In the crafting world (more so than my real life Chicago world), this week started to show some lovely and much welcome signs of spring! Some of the sweetest floral project ideas have started sprouting all over the place in recent weeks. I love it so much and am officially DIY inspired for spring. Now if only the weather would be a little more inspired, we’d be all set. For now, check out what’s got me so amped this week.

Weekly Reader 03.07.14 | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

March 7, 2014 2 Comments

Thank goodness we’ve come to another Friday. Monday I had a wonderful day filled with crafts and planning a doozie of a project- I’ll share more on that another day. Tuesday and Wednesday, I had jury duty for the first time ever! While I can’t discuss the details of the case, I can share that I got all the way to the “we, the jury, find the defendant” part. If nothing else, it was for sure an interesting experience! And this weekend will be filled with catching up on all the work I missed while making secret plans and doing my civic duty – wish me luck. ;)

DIY FYI: Threading a Needle - How to thread a needle at Hands Occupied

DIY FYI: Threading a Needle

February 26, 2014 2 Comments

When I took an etextiles workshop last week, I was reminded that not everyone in the world can easily thread a needle. There are many people in this world (myself included when I have a tendonitis flare-up) who can’t grasp something as small as a piece of thread or hold it steadily enough to get it through a needle. Or maybe there’s a vision issue at play. Physical limitations aside, sometimes you’re just working with crazy thread! Read on for my top tip for getting your needle threaded so you can get down to DIY business!

DIY Light-up Cuff Bracelet at Hands Occupied

DIY Light-Up Cuff Bracelet

February 24, 2014 4 Comments

Etextiles are pretty cool, but somehow actually attempting an electronics project didn’t happen until this week. I’m so glad I finally took a workshop because they’re SO COOL. And not nearly as scary as I thought. Not by a long shot. Today’s tutorial covers the very basics of working with LED bulbs and creating a simple circuit with conductive thread to make a bracelet that lights up when you wear it.

Weekly Reader 02.21.14 | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

February 21, 2014 1 Comment

With Valentine’s Day behind us and the Olympics nearly over, creative bloggers took the opportunity to share some new ideas not bound by seasonal hallmarks. Many beautiful ideas fell under the DIY style category of projects, which makes me oh so happy! Some of my favorites are funky fresh ideas, some a little crazy, and some are simply gorgeous.

Cricut Explore Brings New Meaning to Cutting Edge at Hands Occupied

Cricut Explore Brings New Meaning to Cutting Edge

February 20, 2014 18 Comments

Today I want to talk with you about my experience using one of the newest and most-talked-about DIY tools out there, the Cricut Explore cutting machine. I’ll be covering the costs involved, machine features, lots about its design and how it compares to other machines, as well as details about when the Cricut Explore will be available to the public. I’ll also touch on what the heck a cutting machine is! :)

Weekly Reader 02.14.14 | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

February 14, 2014 1 Comment

It’s Valentine’s Day, you guys! I totally have work today, but I wish I were at home getting my heart-shaped crafting on! Since I can’t, I’ll just share some lovely projects & recipes I’d be making if I could right now. Happy Valentine’s Day :).

Weekly Reader 01.31.14 + A couple announcements | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

January 31, 2014 5 Comments

This month is like a dream for anyone who loves seasonal DIYing as much as I do! We’ve got the Super Bowl, Groundhog Day, the Winter Olympics, AND Valentine’s Day coming up. This means that the homemakey internet has roughly a billion ideas for unique and fun takes on unhealthy party snacks, sweetheart gifts, jewelry and home décor! Check out my faves of the week here.

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 15
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

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.

UPDATES BY EMAIL

Monthly highlights sent to your inbox.

Find Me Elsewhere, If You’re There

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

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

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Are you looking for some late summer reading picks Are you looking for some late summer reading picks? Here are 3 fresh titles for makers of all ages - full reviews are on my bl0g, along with a giveaway for a copy of Knitstrips! The 🔗 is where you’d think. 😉
.
To Make by Danielle Davis (@writesinla) / Knitstrips by Alice Ormsbee Beltran & Karen Kim Mar (@ik_knitstrips) / This Long Tread by Jen Hewett (@jenhewett) 
. 
#summerreading #bookshelf #readingrecommendations #handsoccupied #booksformakers #craftbooks
New on the blog today! This former Librarian revie New on the blog today! This former Librarian reviews three making-related books for kids, teens & adults. And there’s a copy of one up for giveaway too! 📚 
.
To Make by Danielle Davis (@writesinla) with pictures by Mags DeRoma (@magsderoma) / Knitstrips (@ik_knitstrips) by Alice Ormsbee Beltran & Karen Kim Mar / This Long Thread by Jen Hewett (@jenhewett) 
.
I’ll share preview page-through videos for these this week too, but for now the written reviews are at the top of handsoccupied dot com along with my search bar if you can’t find ‘em. All giveaway details are listed in the review post. 🤙🏻 
.
(^ I heard a rumor that if I tell you to exit this app, no one will see this post, so plz forgive the song & dance just in case it matters. 🙈)
.
#handsoccupied #summerreading #booksformakers #booksforcrafters #books #knittersofinstagram #craftbook #knittingbook
I think about the wrong side of my intarsia knitti I think about the wrong side of my intarsia knitting kind of like some embroiderers do: I get (probably too) excited when the back’s neat and tidy. Are you this way? Is it just me? 
.
Pictured is the wrong side of a large primary color intarsia swatch I knit for an upcoming design in @brooklyntweed Arbor. When I pulled it from my studio, I thanked my former self for talking the time to knit, weave in ends, & block a clean swatch already. As critical as they are, I’m excited to not have to make one today. I’ll advocate for swatching all day long, but I won’t pretend it’s like the funnest step in the process! 😆🧶
.
#stopswatchandblockit #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #handsoccupied #knitincolor #knitdesign #handknits
Weaving in ends when you’re knitting with black Weaving in ends when you’re knitting with black yarn… 😅 
.
There are a few reasons 90% of my work is done in primary colors, & this is one of them! Lucky for me and my tear ducts, this secret monochromatic design project is off the needles. Just blocking, seaming, & then grading the thing before I can ship it off to make my deadline. 🤙🏻
Today’s knitting vocabulary words: deadline isla Today’s knitting vocabulary words: deadline island & intarsia lock. Have you run across these terms before? 
.
If there’s interest, I can share more examples of how to wrangle intarsia locks in a future video. With all of the intarsia designs in my queue, examples are sure to present themselves. 😅🧶 
.
#intarsia #deadlineisland #handsoccupied #intarsiaknitting #colorworkknitting
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy