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Hands Occupied

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

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giveaway

Three making related books sit in a pile on a blue background.

Summer Reading for Makers

August 2, 2022 1 Comment

Check out three new books written with makers in mind, and enter to win one for yourself!

High Desert Yarn Review & Giveaway

April 21, 2021 1 Comment

New yarn alert! Knit Picks High Desert is available in a range of jewel tone colors & two weights. Take a closer look & enter to win FOUR skeins of this versatile yarn that’s 100% American from sheep to skein.

Meet Stratosphere, a DK weight, superwash wool yarn. This yarn is great for colorwork, sweaters, and long-wearing projects. Learn more about this American-made yarn and enter to win a skein!

Brown Sheep Stratosphere Yarn Review & Giveaway

November 20, 2019 3 Comments

Meet Stratosphere, a DK weight, superwash wool yarn. This yarn is great for colorwork, sweaters, and long-wearing projects. Learn more about this American-made yarn and enter to win a skein!

Meet Alma, a new yarn from Manos del Uruguay. A single ply fingering weight yarn available in great colors, Alma is a great yarn for your next sweater or shawl project.

Manos del Uruguay Alma Review & Giveaway

September 26, 2019 Leave a Comment

Meet Alma, a new yarn from Manos del Uruguay! A single ply fingering weight yarn available in great colors, Alma is a great yarn for your next sweater or shawl project.

This month's yarn review & giveaway features A Good Yarn's Boca Chica yarn, a fingering weight, chainette yarn in 100% superwash merino wool. Read this post for the details, including project ideas, and enter to win a generous 480-yard skein!

Boca Chica Yarn Review & Giveaway

June 5, 2019 Leave a Comment

This month’s yarn review & giveaway features A Good Yarn’s Boca Chica yarn, a fingering weight, chain-construction yarn in 100% superwash merino wool. Read this post for the details, including project ideas, and enter to win a generous 480-yard skein!

Lhasa Wilderness yarn from Bijou Basin Ranch is a yak & bamboo blend yarn that is breathtakingly soft. An absolute pleasure to work with, this yarn is ideal for shawls, hats, mittens and other items worn close to the skin.

Lhasa Wilderness Yarn Review & Giveaway

March 26, 2019 2 Comments

Lhasa Wilderness yarn from Bijou Basin Ranch is a 75% yak/25% bamboo blend yarn that is breathtakingly soft. An absolute pleasure to work with, Lhasa Wilderness yarn is ideal for shawls, hats, mittens and other items worn close to the skin. Learn more about this beautiful yarn and enter to win a skein!

100% Baby Alpaca Yarn from Andean Sun is so soft! Get the specs on this cuddly yarn and enter to win two balls for your next knit or crochet project.

Andean Sun Baby Alpaca Yarn Review & Giveaway

March 6, 2019 Leave a Comment

100% Baby Alpaca Yarn from Andean Sun is so soft! Get the specs on this cuddly yarn and enter to win two balls for your next knit or crochet project.

Intarsia Mountain, a knitting pattern designed by Heidi Gustad

Reader Survey: What do you want to see in the new year?

December 27, 2018 6 Comments

Help steer Hands Occupied in 2019 by leaving some much-appreciated feedback. And survey respondents can enter to win a $75 KnitPicks gift card for participating!

Perfection Worsted from Kraemer Yarns is a real workhorse of a yarn. It's the ideal pick for knitters and crocheters looking to make colorful projects that won't break the bank! Click through for a full review. 

Perfection Worsted from Kraemer Yarns – Review & Giveaway!

December 10, 2018 Leave a Comment

Perfection Worsted from Kraemer Yarns is a real workhorse of a yarn. It’s the ideal pick for knitters and crocheters looking to make colorful projects that won’t break the bank! Click through for a full review & enter to win 2 skeins of Perfection Worsted!

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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

Craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
❤️ Email preferred

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admitte Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admittedly insane) intarsia project. One day, this will be a seamed sweater, but today is not that day. 🧶 
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Have a good weekend, everyone! 
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Yarn: @universal_yarn’s Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Antarctica & Dragon’s Breath 
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#handsoccupied #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #wip #knitting
Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for e Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for easier continental style knitting. With this purling method, the working yarn says tensioned (held) at the back of your knitting at all times. For many knitters, always holding the yarn at the back helps with tension issues, as well as feeling a little more comfortable. 
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Have you ever encountered this style of purling before? If you’ve tried it, have you found it helps with your purl tension and knitting speed? I’m curious.
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For a written tutorial, visit handsoccupied-dot-com. For video, you guessed it, You2be. Both of these platforms allow for longer, more in-depth versions of this tutorial, including full transcripts, alt text & the ability to pause, slow down or speed up at will. (Like if you really want to learn this, I recommend using a platform that doesn’t keep your hands occupied. Thinking of putting this in all my captions these days tbh - shout out to you if you made it this far. 🙌🏻😂)
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#handsoccupied #learntoknit #continentalknitting #howtoknit #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #knit #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #knittinghack  #handknitting #handknit #norwegianpurling
Have you ever tried this style of purl? . All thi Have you ever tried this style of purl? 
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All this recent talk about throwing vs. continental style knitting made it clear many people struggle with purling in continental knitting. Turns out that Norway may have the answer! In Norwegian purling, the working yarn stays tensioned at the back at all times, helping with speed and tension. 🤯
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Head to the bl0g (🔗 in bi0) for a more in-depth look at how to work a Norwegian purl stitch, including a photo tutorial with animated GIF & a video tutorial. Wrapping your mind around how to work a stitch you’re familiar with in a totally new way can be confusing, so I tried to give a few options for clarity. 🤙🏻 Video is also on You2be. 
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#handsoccupied #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #norwegianpurling #continentalknitting #howtoknit #learntoknit #knitterofinstagram #knitters
It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or reintroduced myself, so here goes! I’m Heidi Gustad, a craft book author, pattern designer, and tutorial creator who specializes in yarn crafts. Lately, I’ve been focused on releasing quality knitting videos and related blog posts to help teach things like the difference between provisional cast ons and how to fix common knitting mistakes. Next week I’m shooting requested crochet and latch hook videos, so h👀kers, your time is coming! And if you ever have tutorial requests, please let me know. ☺️
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TLDR: I’m Heidi. I design & teach yarn crafts. You can find tutorials on my blog (est. 2010) & You2be. I also have several knitting & crochet patterns + a book about latch hook available. / All of these can be found on my website, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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#handsoccupied #fridayintroduction #heidigustad #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #yarncrafts #latchhookbook
Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Contine Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Continental or English Style? Here’s a quick overview of the differences between the two most common knitting styles, including a side by side comparison. (A good one to save for future reference. 👍🏻) 
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There’s more on the differences between picking and throwing in my latest blog post & You 2ube video - the l1nk is where you’d think!
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#handsoccupied #learntoknit #knittingstyles #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitter
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