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Hands Occupied

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

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Learn about Shepherd's Lamb Churro Yarn, a gorgeous, earthy single ply yarn that comes in great colors and is perfect for knitting, crochet, and weaving.

Shepherd’s Lamb Churro Yarn – Review & Giveaway

February 27, 2018 Leave a Comment

Learn about Shepherd’s Lamb Churro Yarn, a gorgeous, earthy single ply yarn that comes in great colors and is perfect for knitting, crochet, and weaving. And enter to win a skein to try for yourself!

Vogue Knitting Live is a fun conference for knitters and yarn fans alike. You can take some of the best workshops, meet yarn friends in real life, and buy some great yarn & supplies in their awesome marketplace.

Vogue Knitting Live is Back in Chicago – Enter to win a ticket!

February 22, 2018 Leave a Comment

Vogue Knitting Live is a fun conference for knitters and yarn fans alike. You can take some of the best workshops, meet yarn friends in real life, and buy some great yarn & supplies in their awesome marketplace. Vogue Knitting Live is coming to Chicago, March 9-11, and it’s a must-do if you’re a yarn lover anywhere near Chi-town.

Zen Yarn Garden Magic Dye Pot Series - Yarn review & giveaway at Hands Occupied

Zen Yarn Garden Magical Dye Pot Series – Review & Giveaway

January 24, 2018 10 Comments

Learn all about Zen Yarn Garden’s new Magical Dye Pot yarns, take a peek at some pictures of it swatched for knit and crochet, & enter to win a skein.

Have you ever tried yak yarn? Check out the specs on a 50% yak/50% wool yarn from Bijou Basin Ranch and enter for your chance to win a skein!

Bijou Basin Ranch Himalayan Summit Review & Giveaway

December 20, 2017 2 Comments

The final yarn review & giveaway of the year is Bijou Basin Ranch’s Himalayan Summit yarn, a lovely 50% Tibetan yak/50% superfine merino wool blend.

Learn about Skeins in the Stacks, a bookish yarn company that makes hand-dyed yarns using natural elements from Alaska.

Skeins in the Stacks Review & Giveaway

November 20, 2017 2 Comments

If you didn’t end up getting lucky enough to win the big giveaway for the Read Along Knit Along, I have some bookish-meets-yarnish good news! I’ve teamed up with indie yarn company Skeins in the Stacks to bring you a second chance to win some awesome yarn.

Volcano Hat by Heidi Gustad - get the free, beginner-friendly knitting pattern, as seen on The Knit Show with Vickie Howell!

Volcano Hat on The Knit Show – Let’s celebrate with a giveaway!

October 10, 2017 3 Comments

There’s a new knitting show in town, and everyone can watch it free on YouTube! The Knit Show with Vickie Howell is a Kickstarter-funded, studio quality craft show all about knitting and crochet. I was lucky enough to design a custom knit hat pattern especially for beginners for the show’s second-ever episode!

You've got to try Manos del Uruguay's new Serpentina yarn - it's handspun, making it so pretty! Click through for a full review and giveaway.

Manos del Uruguay Serpentina Review & Giveaway

September 27, 2017 2 Comments

I could look at this pretty yarn all dang day! Manos del Uruguay’s new yarn, Serpentina, is both hand dyed and handspun, which is why it’s incredible to behold.

MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino is soft, lightweight and springy. This yarn is a fun one to work with for both knit and crochet. Click through to enter to win two balls to try for yourself!

MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino Review & Giveaway

August 15, 2017 1 Comment

MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino is soft, lightweight and springy. This yarn is a fun one to work with for both knit and crochet. Check out this post for a review & enter to win two balls to try for yourself!

Ever wanted to try a yarn subscription box? Take a look at Knitcrate & their new Crochet Crate, plus enter for a chance to win one to try for yourself!

Knitcrate’s Crochet Crate – Review & Giveaway

July 19, 2017 Leave a Comment

Ever wanted to try a yarn subscription box? Take a look at Knitcrate & their new Crochet Crate, plus enter for a chance to win one to try for yourself!

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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
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. 😆🫣
In knitting, a Left Lifted Increase (LLI) lets you In knitting, a Left Lifted Increase (LLI) lets you add a stitch in between two columns of stitches that leans to the left. Similar to an M1L, LLIs allow you to increase nearly invisibly.
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To learn more about lifted increases, including when to use them and how they differ from Make 1s, head to the 🔗 in my profle. 
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Have you ever used lifted increases? I used M1’s almost exclusively for a long time when I needed to inc between stitches, but when I designed the Intarsia Flower Pillow pattern, I needed something that would allow me to increase a lot near my cast on, and M1’s resulted in edge curling. The more you know! 🌈 
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Yarn: @lionbrandyarn Wool Ease from my Stash / Neddles: @boyeyarncrafts - Just remembered these are the needles I learned to knit on at age 8. 😂
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#handsoccupied #knitting #learntoknit #howtoknit #sweaterknitting #knitinspiration #knittersofinstagram #liftedincreases
Last week I got to hang out with my family & helpe Last week I got to hang out with my family & helped babysit my red-headed niece and nephew. So here’s some plane knitting, and a couple pictures (shared with permission) of my babysitting adventures.
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Lessons learned: 1️⃣ Trying to knit around 2 toddlers, 2 cats & 2 large dogs is pretty hard. 2️⃣ I learned during water color time that pink and black make “colorful black.” 🩷🖤 3️⃣ Toddlers do NOT care about your rainbow sorting of their toys. 4️⃣ Toddlers are very good at finding mischief in a very short amount of time, what a surprise. 😂
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#handsoccupied #knitting #placesyoucanknit #knitters #knitinpublic #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration
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