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Hands Occupied

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

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heidi gustad

Try your hands at knitting the Ruby Stole, available exclusively in the June 2017 issue of I Like Knitting magazine.

Ruby Stole – New Design in I Like Knitting Magazine!

May 9, 2017 2 Comments

Tasked with designing a garment inspired by birthstones, I was excited to develop a custom motif that looks like pear-shaped rubies. Using a combination of easy increases and decreases, short rows, twisted stitches and more, you’ll be able to knit an elegant finished piece with this pattern.

Get your hands on the only shawl you'll ever need, the Abie's Lace Shawl, in the latest issue of I Like Knitting magazine.

New lace shawl design in I Like Knitting Magazine

March 13, 2017 1 Comment

There’s a new Hands Occupied design in the latest issue of I Like Knitting magazine. The magazine’s editors have even dubbed this lovely lacy pattern the only shawl you’ll ever need!

Rick & Roll Socks by Heidi Gustad - Try out this colorful, fun-to-make and beginner-friendly sock knitting pattern!

Rick & Roll Socks are here!

March 1, 2017 Leave a Comment

Who doesn’t love a good boot-friendly sock? They keep your toes warm while doubling as a buffer between blister-inducing boot tops, plus they are a great way to add a pop of color and texture to your outfit. The Rick & Roll Socks are the newest pattern from Hands Occupied.

Learn how to pick up stitches in knitting. This easy video tutorial shows you how to pick up and knit stitches in a selvage edge.

How to Pick Up Stitches in Knitting

February 8, 2017 3 Comments

Learn how to pick up stitches with an easy video tutorial showing you how to pick up and knit stitches in a selvage edge.

Explore the new Hands Occupied and celebrate the updates with a knitting kit giveaway featuring Spud & Chloe yarn!

Welcome to the New Hands Occupied

February 6, 2017 Leave a Comment

Learn about the changes that have been going on behind the scenes at Hands Occupied, take a look at the new site, and celebrate the redesign with a knitting kit giveaway and a 40% pattern discount!

The top posts from Hands Occupied for 2016. Find out what posts made this year's top ten list as we look back at a doozie of a year.

Picks of the Year!

December 30, 2016 1 Comment

Find out what posts made this year’s top ten list as we look back at a doozie of a year.

Knit an adorable cable knit beanie for winter with this free pattern.

Winter Cable Knit Beanie

November 14, 2016 4 Comments

Knit an adorable cable knit beanie for winter with this free pattern that comes in adult and children’s sizes.

Nina, a yarn shop in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

Trunk Show at Nina!

April 13, 2016 Leave a Comment

This Saturday is my first-ever trunk show, and it’s at Chicago’s own Nina! Any chance I get to hang out with knitters, surrounded in yarn, is pretty fantastic. I’ll be at Nina from 1 to 5 with samples of some of my favorite pattern designs, and we have some special goodies for attendees!

Learn how to knit with Hands Occupied for AllFreeKnitting - free video tutorials!

A New Crop of Tutorial Videos

July 7, 2015 Leave a Comment

At the beginning of this year I started hosting knitting video tutorials for AllFreeKnitting, and just last week I wrapped up hosting their first ever knit along, featuring the Spring Meadow Scarf. Now that the KAL is behind us, a new batch of tutorials are being released that you might be interested in.

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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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