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Hands Occupied

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

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halloween

I got this wild idea to make a giant pom pom costume using latch hook, so I gave it a go for Halloween. Take a closer look at this three dimensional rug-making project and its construction.

Attempting a Giant Pom Pom Costume

October 31, 2019 4 Comments

I got this wild idea to make a giant pom pom costume using latch hook, so I gave it a go for Halloween. Take a closer look at this three dimensional rug-making project and its construction.

Just in time for Halloween! Get the free knitting chart for an adorable jack-o-lantern motif with intarsia or duplicate stitch. This free knitting pattern is just so much fun!

Smiling Jack-o’-Lantern Knitting Chart for Halloween

October 25, 2019 2 Comments

Just in time for Halloween! Get the free knitting chart for an adorable jack-o-lantern motif that can be worked with intarsia or duplicate stitch.

Read about how this intarsia jack-o'-lantern sweater came to be, and the joy of making exactly what you want to make, just for you.

Jack-O’-Lantern Sweater / Handmade Wardrobe

October 17, 2019 11 Comments

Have you ever just sat down and made something because you had a picture in your head of what you wanted to make? Read about how this intarsia jack-o’-lantern sweater came to be, and the joy of making exactly what you want to make, just for you.

Picks of the Week for October 3, 2019 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

October 4, 2019 Leave a Comment

It’s October, so the motivation to knock out a ton of knitting and crochet projects is strong. This time of year, weekends are our friend! Inspire your weekend creativity with this week’s picks.

Make a quick and easy Ms. Frizzle costume from The Magic School Bus. Perfect for Halloween or comic con! No sewing, knitting or crocheting skills required. Click through for the how-to.

Easy Ms. Frizzle Costume for Halloween or Comic Con

October 16, 2018 2 Comments

Make a quick and easy Ms. Frizzle costume from The Magic School Bus. Perfect for Halloween or comic con! No sewing, knitting or crocheting skills required.

Knitflix for Halloween - some of the best spooky shows for marathon knit & crochet sessions, including The Addams Family, What We Do in the Shadows & Fear the Walking Dead!

Knitflix for Halloween

October 24, 2017 Leave a Comment

With Halloween coming up, it’s fitting to talk about the best seasonal media to pair with your next Knitflix (or crochetflix or stitchflix or whateverflix, really) marathon. Since a couple of these are standalone movies and shorter pieces, we’re going to take a look at a few different shows that are perfect for Halloween!

Picks of the Week for October 14, 2016 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

October 14, 2016 1 Comment

Inspire your weekend knitting with these great new ideas!

Picks of the Week for October 7, 2016 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

October 7, 2016 Leave a Comment

Fall is in the air! A full half of this week’s picks are beanies, which means temps are finally starting to drop enough (in this hemisphere at least) to start getting some use out of our finished knits.

Picks of the Week for October 16, 2015 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

October 16, 2015 Leave a Comment

It’s mid-October, which means we’re at the point where we have to decide if it’s too late to incorporate yarn into Halloween costumes or not. I vote yes! I’m going to be buckling down this weekend to knock out my vision for this year’s getup, and I’m crossing my fingers my vision matches the reality of the finished costume. Wish me luck!

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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
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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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