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Hands Occupied

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

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Get Projects in a Box with PostStich | HandsOccupied.com

Get Projects in a Box with PostStich + Your chance to win a box!

December 3, 2014 24 Comments

I know a lot of gift-givers in my life might not feel super confident in buying me yarn or yarn supplies. It’s hard to deny that there can be a bit of a learning curve when it comes to buying quality yarn and related supplies, right? If family members or friends are asking you or a significant other about a yarny gift for you, you might want to suggest PostStich.

The Remy Pullover Sweater by Hands Occupied

The Remy Pullover Sweater (& Lion Brand Giveaway Winner!)

December 2, 2014 Leave a Comment

I wanted the Remy to be a really comfortable sweater that’s warm, but not too warm. The cables and demi-boatneck collar lend it to doubling as both a casual and formal sweater. After knitting a whole, human-sized sweater, you want it to be useful, right?

How to Knit a Three Needle Bind Off at Hands Occupied

How to Knit a Three Needle Bind Off / Knit Along Day 7

November 17, 2014 3 Comments

We’ve come to the end, my friends. This is the last tutorial day in the fall knit along. Since I know many of you are not quite at the finishing point, never fear! I’ve decided to extend the giveaway deadline through the end of the month to give everyone a fair chance (and Thanksgiving weekend if you’re in the U.S.) to finish your sweaters. Full and updated giveaway details are at the bottom of this post.

Knit Along Day 3: The Other Sleeve at handsoccupied.com

Knit Along Day 3: The Other Sleeve

October 20, 2014 Leave a Comment

Last week’s installment of the fall knit along featured the pattern for the first sleeve for your Remy Pullover. This week is a bit of a repeat since it’s time for sleeve 2 of 2. There are a couple of variations you can do if you are a knitter who hates knitting things like mittens, socks and sweater sleeves. You know, projects that involve knitting things twice.

Reader Survey Results (& Giveaway Winners!) at handsoccupied.com

Reader Survey Results (& Giveaway Winners!)

July 22, 2014 1 Comment

Thank you so so much to everyone who completed the Reader Survey this year! It’s clear that I’ve got a bunch of knitters and crocheters on my hands these days, and you guys want patterns, tips, knit alongs and crochet ideas. Don’t worry, non-needlers, I will still be doing other DIYs! I do need some time, after all, to develop new patterns and knit or crochet them up.

Hands Occupied 2014 Reader Survey (& a giveaway!) - handsoccupied.com

Hands Occupied 2014 Reader Survey (& a giveaway!)

July 1, 2014 6 Comments

It’s been a little over a year since I did my first reader survey for Hands Occupied. I learned so much and I helped me know a little bit about what direction you’d like to see this blog go in. Thanks in part to that survey and your continued feedback in the comments (which is amazing!), a lot’s changed since May 2013. So now, 14 months later, I’ve got a survey for you to see what you’d like to see more (or less) (or WAY more) of from me and from Hands Occupied.

We Are Knitters Giveaway at handsoccupied.com

We Are Knitters – Win a Kit!

June 11, 2014 Leave a Comment

Yesterday I turned the big 2-7. To spread out the lovely birthday karma, I’ve teamed up with We Are Knitters for a giveaway that’s perfect for beginning knitters and knitting lovers alike. In case you’ve not heard of it, We Are Knitters is a company that sells yarn and ready-to-go knitting kits that come in a lovely brown sack, filled with all the goodness you need to knit up a whole project from start to finish. That includes the pattern, needles, yarn, and necessary notions.

Paper Wedding Crafts with Lia Griffith via www.handsoccupied.com. Visit post to win one of TWO, 3-month Creativebug membership giveaway & a coupon code for all!

Attention, DIY Brides & Handmade Hostesses!

May 27, 2014 4 Comments

(Giveaway alert! Click through to the full post to enter.) My bridal party career began at the age of 6, as my aunt’s flower girl. I also played my oboe for a cousin’s walk down the aisle, did a reading at her sister’s, and was a bride myself three years ago. In a few short weeks, I’ll finally round out my wedding resume as a bridesmaid for my sister-in-law. I’m excited! My dress is cute, but nothing will compare to my 1993 flower girl attire…

Book Review | Washi Wonderful

Book Review & Giveaway | Washi Wonderful

April 22, 2014 15 Comments

In my library career, I’ve had the awesome opportunity to incorporate my craft life in a few different ways. Most notably, I get to design DIYs for my teens on a regular basis, and I’ve also been in charge of selecting craft books for a couple of my libraries’ collections. That means getting to pick out which titles get bought, cataloged and put on our shelves for people to check out and DIY with at home. It’s pretty fun! So when I was contacted about reviewing a book full of washi tape crafts, I was excited – I’ve always wanted the chance to review craft books on Hands Occupied!

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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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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts

handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer 🧶
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

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
Frogging is a word in the knitting world that mean Frogging is a word in the knitting world that means to rip out your knitting. It’s called frogging because frogs say “ribbit,” and when you’re tearing out your knitting, you will “rip it” out, and that sounds like ribbit. No really. 🐸 Did you know this fun fact? 
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P.S. I did like this design concept, but to make the pattern more knitter friendly as well as more wearable, I am making some tweaks to the construction. Excited to share when it’s ready! 🥰🧶
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Yarn: @blueskyfibers Woolstok North in Morning Frost & Highland Fleece 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #frogging #blueskyfibers #knittersofinstagram #blueskymakers #knittingvocabulary #bsfmakers #knitdesign
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