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Hands Occupied

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

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exquisite mystery knit along

There's more than one way to knit a bind off! Check out this elegant alternative, the collar bind off, in an easy to follow video tutorial featuring knit designer Heidi Gustad.

How to Work a Collar Bind Off

January 16, 2017 1 Comment

There’s more than one way to bind off a knitting project. For some this may come as a shock. :) I mean, I use the same classic bind off a good 85% of the time, but sometimes projects need a little extra something to help the finishing look just right. Enter, the collar bind off.

The Indian Cross Stitch is a beautiful way to change up your knitting. Formed by knitting elongated stitches out of order, the Indian Cross Stitch is a particularly unique and beautiful addition to your knitting. Click through for an easy to follow video tutorial.

How to Knit the Indian Cross Stitch

January 11, 2017 6 Comments

The Indian Cross Stitch is a beautiful way to change up your knitting, and it’s a stitch you don’t come across all that often. Formed by knitting elongated stitches out of order, the Indian Cross Stitch provides a particularly unique and beautiful addition to your knitting.

Learn how to increase and decrease stitches in brioche knitting with this easy video tutorial featuring Heidi Gustad from the Hands Occupied blog.

How to Increase and Decrease in Brioche Knitting

January 4, 2017 3 Comments

Earlier this week, we learned how to knit two color brioche rib flat, so now it’s time to tackle brioche increasing and decreasing. There are not one, but TWO easy video tutorials to follow in this post!

Demystify flat two color brioche rib knitting with this easy to follow video tutorial featuring Heidi Gustad from the blog Hands Occupied.

How to Knit 2 Color Brioche Rib Flat

January 2, 2017 1 Comment

Learn how to knit two color brioche rib flat to add vertical colorwork to your knitting.

Join the Exquisite Mystery Knit Along starting January 1. Designed collaboratively by three designers: Heidi Gustad, Christopher Salas & Sarah Abram, this knit along is not to be missed!

Announcing the Exquisite Mystery Knit Along!

December 27, 2016 3 Comments

Cast on with us January 1 for a super special knit along. This post is filled with all I can tell you for now, but soon, all will be revealed!

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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

Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
🧶 Really into intarsia
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop the latest patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
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What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
If only knitting a whole project took 39 seconds… 😮‍💨 
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In this video, you can see how the Intarsia Flower Pillow pattern knits up - two flat panels, one with intarsia, both are blocked, and then they’re seamed. Find the pattern on @hi.ravelry & my website, just search Intarsia Flower Pillow. 🌸 
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P.S. I’m really smiling in this video while seaming the pillow, so I guess I’m proving last week’s claim that I truly enjoy that sometimes-dreaded task. 😆🫣
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