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Hands Occupied

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

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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.

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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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Latch Hook by Heidi Gustad

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handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer helping makers untangle various techniques with a blog & YouTube channel
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Stitching around the Christmas tree 🧶 . Working Stitching around the Christmas tree 🧶
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Working on a new sample of an old sweater today, and I can confirm: a tree makes a pretty decent yarn holder. 
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Yarn: @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Orange Peel
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#handsoccupied #eweeweyarns #orangeyarn #knitting #wip #knitters #knittersofinstagram
Meet Yarn Citizen, a new line of sustainably sourc Meet Yarn Citizen, a new line of sustainably sourced and affordably priced yarn from Jimmy Beans Wool. Enter to win a kit featuring this yarn in the November yarn review & giveaway on the bl0g!
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Yarn: @jimmybeanswool Yarn Citizen Harmony Worsted
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Review & entry form 🔗 are where you’d think. 😉 
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#handsoccupied #yarncitizen #yarncitizenharmonyworsted #yarnreview #knitting #knitter #knitinspiration
Happy with how the mini Nightmare Before Christmas Happy with how the mini Nightmare Before Christmas sweater vest turned out! Now my dog and I can go on walks in matching seasonal fits 😂
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1. I knit this bottom up with scraps and ran out of black yarn. If the vest consistently drifts down her chest upon wear, I might extend the collar or redo the chest panel at a smaller size. If you’ve read this far, what do you think? As a designer, I so rarely get to improvise a knitting project, and I’m having fun working with fewer rules than usual. 🧶
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2. June has a grooming appointment this weekend. She’s currently the mayor of scruff town, I know. 🫡
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Pattern: Chart is from the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern by yours truly in the official Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book 
Yarn: @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted
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#spiralhillsweatervest #spiralhillsweatervestkal #handsoccupied #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook #dogknit #knitsfordogs #handmade #brooklyntweed
I finished June’s doggie version of the Spiral H I finished June’s doggie version of the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest & it’s so cute! 🥰
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Do you think June appreciates the fact that she now has a sweater made with @brooklyntweed yarn? 😂 
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#handsoccupied #dogsweater #dogjumper #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #spiralhillsweatervest #spiralhillsweatervestkal #handmade #brooklyntweedimbue #brooklyntweed
Squeezing in some stitching on a selfish sweater t Squeezing in some stitching on a selfish sweater this Saturday morning 😋
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Pattern: Fruit Stripe Pullover with some intarsia mods on the front panel 
Designed by Rachel Brockman for @universal_yarn 
Yarn: Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Dragon’s Breath & Antarctica 🧶
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#handsoccupied #knitting #weekendknitting #sweaterknitting #universalyarn #fibranaturacobblestone
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