• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

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

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

inspiration

Weekly Reader 03.14.14 | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

March 14, 2014 1 Comment

In the crafting world (more so than my real life Chicago world), this week started to show some lovely and much welcome signs of spring! Some of the sweetest floral project ideas have started sprouting all over the place in recent weeks. I love it so much and am officially DIY inspired for spring. Now if only the weather would be a little more inspired, we’d be all set. For now, check out what’s got me so amped this week.

Weekly Reader 03.07.14 | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

March 7, 2014 2 Comments

Thank goodness we’ve come to another Friday. Monday I had a wonderful day filled with crafts and planning a doozie of a project- I’ll share more on that another day. Tuesday and Wednesday, I had jury duty for the first time ever! While I can’t discuss the details of the case, I can share that I got all the way to the “we, the jury, find the defendant” part. If nothing else, it was for sure an interesting experience! And this weekend will be filled with catching up on all the work I missed while making secret plans and doing my civic duty – wish me luck. ;)

Weekly Reader 02.28.14 | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

February 28, 2014 1 Comment

I’ve recently rededicated myself to spending at least a little time every day handling yarn. Knitting, crochet – whatever. I find I’m a lot more balanced whenever I’m working on a fiber-based project. I don’t know why that is! In honor of my rediscovered zen zone, today’s Weekly Reader is dedicated to my favorite recent yarn-related patterns, finds, projects & ideas!

50 Handmade Valentine Ideas at Hands Occupied

50 Handmade Valentine Ideas

February 11, 2014 4 Comments

Every Friday, I gush over favorite DIYs in my Weekly Reader roundups. Many of those favorite crafts, decor & recipes have been Valentine’s Day projects, but there have been even more great V-Day projects banked in my Be Mine Pinterest board all season. Heck, I’ve even been gathering up ideas all year! What better way to celebrate my favorite DIY inspiration than to bundle up my top 50 ideas, plus a few of my own projects from weeks and years past, to share with you.

Weekly Reader 02.07.14 | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

February 7, 2014 Leave a Comment

The Olympics start today! And Valentine’s Day is in one week! I am seriously more excited about this crafting season than most Christmases. Especially now that, while often resulting in adorable party crafts, football time is over. This year, I’m seeing so much lovely pink and grey in DIY projects. It’s pretty and feminine in an elegant way. I’ll always be team red, since it’s my favorite color, but I’m really swooning for what my fellow bloggers are designing right now. Here are some of my faves.

Weekly Reader 01.31.14 + A couple announcements | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

January 31, 2014 5 Comments

This month is like a dream for anyone who loves seasonal DIYing as much as I do! We’ve got the Super Bowl, Groundhog Day, the Winter Olympics, AND Valentine’s Day coming up. This means that the homemakey internet has roughly a billion ideas for unique and fun takes on unhealthy party snacks, sweetheart gifts, jewelry and home décor! Check out my faves of the week here.

Weekly Reader 01.24.14 | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

January 24, 2014 2 Comments

Geometry and Valentines seem to be on the mind of bloggers this week! Check out my top project picks and see what you might have missed from me this week!

Weekly Reader 01.17.14 | Hands Occupied

Weekly Reader

January 17, 2014 Leave a Comment

This week’s top picks cover all of my interests: dogs, soft pretzels, home decor, DIY style and holiday crafting!

Style this DIY: Swiss Army Blanket at Hands Occupied

Style this DIY: Swiss Army Blanket

January 16, 2014 Leave a Comment

Picks for a dream living room designed for winter reading and hibernation.

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to page 5
  • Go to page 6
  • Go to page 7
  • Go to page 8
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 14
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

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.

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Never miss a tutorial with these short & sweet monthly updates.

Find Me on Social Media

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

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
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
.
Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
.
Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
.
#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
.
I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
.
Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
.
#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
.
As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
.
P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
.
#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
.
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. 🤙🏻 
.
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. 
.
#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. 
.
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. 🌧️ 
.
Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
.
#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy