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Hands Occupied

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

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Giant God's Eye Wall Hanging for Valentine's Day

Giant Valentine’s Day God’s Eye

February 10, 2014 Leave a Comment

Isn’t this such a surprisingly chic project? I got my hands on a couple of vintage arrows and have been dying to DIY with them for months! Of course these arrows came to mind when I was brainstorming Valentine’s project this year. What started as a simple vintage find became this ginormous God’s eye. The finished DIY really reminds me of some of the Native American-influenced crazy tapestries of the 1970s. I imagine this on the wall of Cupid’s swinging pad back in the day.

15 Olympic Crafts (that aren't just for kids!) at Hands Occupied

15 Olympic Crafts (that aren’t just for kids!)

February 6, 2014 3 Comments

When you search for Olympic crafts or DIYs, SO much of what you find is designed for kids. Kids are great, but I work with them for my job and I’m not a mom. I don’t want to do kid stuff in my off time, is that so bad? Bring on the Olympic rings jewelry, boozy DIYs, adorable baked goods, and Grecian accessories!

Olympic Rings Valentine - Easy Valentine's Day Card DIY Craft at Hands Occupied

Olympic Rings Valentine

February 5, 2014 2 Comments

The opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics is Friday, so I’ve got both the Olympics and Valentine’s Day on the brain. Using Apple Barrel Craft Paint, I whipped up this easy Valentine’s Day card with teachers in mind.

DIY Color Blocked Glitter Bangle at Hands Occupied

DIY Color Blocked Glitter Bangle Bracelet

February 4, 2014 4 Comments

Don’t you just love a DIY that takes something that cost a quarter and makes it look like a million bucks? Well, maybe not a million, but more than 25 cents! I got a bangle bracelet at a thrift store years ago and realized I hadn’t been wearing it at all as it was, so a quickie makeover was in order!

Staggered Holes Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern at Hands Occupied

Staggered Holes Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern

February 3, 2014 43 Comments

I have about 15 friends and relatives who have recently had babies or are currently pregnant. It’s SO MANY ladies, you guys! While all of this baby news is super exciting, it can be a bit of a burden when you try to knit blankets for that many babies. The pattern I’m sharing today is one I came up with for two of the blankets I’ve gifted so far. It’s easy and is good even for beginner knitters. The only things you need to know how to do beyond casting on & off and knit & purl is how to knit 2 together and yarn over.

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.

Easy Friendship Bracelet Sunglasses, Thread Wrapped Glasses at Hands Occupied

Easy Friendship Bracelet Sunglasses

January 28, 2014 4 Comments

I can’t even tell you how many hours I spent making friendship bracelets as a kid! Using some epic Lolita sunglasses as a canvas, I thought it would be cool to inject a little nostalgia for my childhood into a project and personal style – as well as a little nostalgia for the warmer weather that usually went along with summer camp-style crafting. Who wouldn’t want to rock some crazy sunglasses like this this Valentine’s Day? Or any day, really?

DIY Business Card Envelopes & New Business Cards for Hands Occupied

DIY Business Card Envelopes

January 22, 2014 8 Comments

These new business cards combine my bookish librarian side with my DIY obsessed creative side. Check out how I made them come together with a few office supplies.

Knitted Faux Woven Cowl - Free Knitting Pattern at Hands Occupied

Faux Woven Cowl – The Warmest in the World!

January 20, 2014 33 Comments

A free pattern for a faux woven effect cowl that uses linen stitch and bulky yarn to create an incredibly warm garment. Includes video tutorial.

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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 🧶
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

Surprise, I had a baby 3 weeks ago! The pregnancy Surprise, I had a baby 3 weeks ago! The pregnancy was high risk, so I chose to be quiet about it online until recently.

My son was born on Saturday 8/30. My water broke at 2 am, and he was born at 11:26 am, which the nurses kept telling us was very fast for a first labor. He weighed 5 lbs 14.2 oz and was 18.5” long. 

My husband & I both put so much effort into educating ourselves about pregnancy and natural childbirth, and when we found out an induction was highly likely, we embraced the lack of control we had in favor of hoping the baby would arrive healthy. To our surprise, he arrived spontaneously at 37 weeks + 4 days, and the labor progressed so quickly, we did end up with a natural labor experience (which I was glad I was prepared for! 😮‍💨😅).

We’re all happy and healthy. June has become his little nanny dog and makes sure we know when he’s crying or has a dirty diaper. We are very grateful for all the love and support we’ve already received from friends and family. Much love to everyone! ❤️❤️❤️
POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern fits with no ease vs. 4” of positive ease. There’s a bit more length to the cotton (brighter color) sample, but both are cropped and feature shoulder seams designed to sit an inch back onto the shoulder instead of on top, giving it a little swing. Length is easily adjustable for folks looking for less of a crop. 
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Pattern: Bevelled Tank by @handsoccupied for @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn summer 2024. Available for free from Hobbii at the 🔗 in my profile.
Yarn pictured: @kelbournewoolens Skipper and Camper. 
Dress form is adjusted to a 36” chest and ~5’3”ish in height. 
Human has a 40” chest and is 5’5”.
Both skirts are vintage.
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #handsoccupied #intarsia #handmade #knitting #colorwork
Let’s talk about fit and ease! . During the Beve Let’s talk about fit and ease!
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During the Bevelled Tank design process for @pompommag, I knit 2 samples using 2 different @KelbourneWoolens yarns. One was in Skipper (100% cotton, second photo) and the other was in Camper (100% 2 ply wool). The Skipper sample was knit for a 36” bust, which measures in at 40” with 4” of positive ease. And I knit the Camper Sample for my 40” bust with a 44” finished measurement. (BTW, I’m 5’5” for folks that find that measurement helpful in visualizing fit.)
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Based on the size chart for the Bevelled Tank, that means I knit one size 3 sample and one size 4. As designed, I conveniently fit a size 4 as intended with 4” of positive ease. When I wear the 3, there is no ease at all because the garment and my body are both 40” in size. Comparing the 2 garments, you can see how the fiber content (cotton vs. wool) and fit (no ease vs. 4” of positive ease) makes a difference in the look and feel of the finished garment. 
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These samples are a great way to compare what ease looks like on different bodies. While I can fit both a size 3 and 4, the garment with no ease feels more like pajamas or a bralette when I wear it. On the other hand, when I wear the one with 4” of positive ease, I feel comfortable enough to wear it to work, even as a crop top. Plus, it leaves me with enough room to layer it with a nice button down if I’m not feeling the cropped look one day. 
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I’m curious - how would you style this tank? Would you modify it with a few stockinette rows for added length? I’m so curious now that this pattern is finally out in the world. :) 
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #bevelledtank #handsoccupied #knitting #intarisa #handmade #kelbournewoolens #croppedsweater #summerknits
After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m ba After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m back with a brand new pattern in 9 sizes, and it’s FREE as part of @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn’s summer design collection! (Link is in my bio.)
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In my December newsletter, I announced that I was soliciting test knitters for a pattern that had originally been selected for the summer ’24 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly magazine. However, the magazine ceased publication after its spring ’24 issue, leaving in-progress designs unpublished. (It happens.) As a result, I’d begun the long process of editing, testing, and photographing the pattern for independent release through the Hands Occupied pattern shop and Ravelry.
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Before I was done with that process, Pom Pom Quarterly’s former editors reached out with an exciting proposal for the pattern. Post-magazine, they’ve begun to partner with yarn companies to produce high quality pattern collections. They wanted to include designs from the would-be current issue of Pom Pom Quarterly in a new collection for Hobbii yarn, including my Bevelled Tank. I worked with the same technical editors I would have for the magazine on this one, and as you can see from the photos, Pom Pom’s team did an amazing job of styling the garment to the beautiful standards they’re known for.
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You can learn more about the pattern on my blog and get the free pattern from Hobbii yarn - links to both in my profile. I’ll post sizing info in the comments for quick reference too. 🧶
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #knitting #intarsia #sponsored #colorworkknitting 
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Photos: @dianascarrunz 
Model: @angel.jade_
Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vi Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vintage knitting pattern from 1938 called the Fernlace Pullover. A pattern so nice, I knit it twice.
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Yellow version 💛: knit with Despondent Dyes’ Vintage Vixen Sport after attending a @squidneyknits vintage knitting retreat in 2019 & learning *so much*. Paired with a self-drafted circle skirt pattern. 
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Blue version 💙: knit with @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Sky Blue. Paired with the 1940s Boardwalk Duet sewing pattern from @decades_of_style 
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Head to my stories for 🔗🔗 to the handmade wardrobe blog posts I wrote about each take on the Fernlace Pullover, working with a vintage pattern, where to find vintage patterns (including the one I used), & some thoughts on sizing. 
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Image descriptions available in alt text. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadewardrobe #fernlacepullover #vintageknitting #vintageknittingpatterns #knitting_inspiration
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