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Hands Occupied

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

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kal

Learn how to knit gorgeous two color brioche rib in the round with this great video tutorial. Click through to view.

How to Knit Two Color Brioche Rib in the Round / Funkasonic KAL

January 6, 2016 6 Comments

It’s a bit of a mouthful, but this is my favorite method for knitting vertical stripes. Kick off the Funkasonic Knit Along officially with this great video tutorial.

Learn how to cast on your knitting with the German Twisted Cast On, also known as the Old Norwegian Cast On. This is very similar to the Long Tail Cast On, but adds some useful stretch.

Old Norwegian Sock Cast On

January 4, 2016 6 Comments

This knitting cast on is similar to the widely-used long tail cast on, but includes an extra twist that provides added yarn to each stitch of the cast on, resulting in a stretchier cast on edge. This cast on is great for socks, mittens and sweater sleeves – really any edge you would want a little stretch for!

Knit the Funkasonic Mittens & Funkasonic Mukluks to keep toasty this winter!

Start the new year with the Funkasonic Knit Along! (+ giveaway!)

December 31, 2015 Leave a Comment

Why yes, you’re seeing that correctly! That’s TWO new, coordinating patterns from yours truly. I’m kicking off the new year with two patterns I’ve dubbed Funkasonic for their mesmerizing use of stripes! While they’re officially being released in my pattern shop on Friday, January 15, I’ve teamed up with PostStitch and Ewe Ewe Yarns to bring you a super special knit along with these two totally funky patterns this January.

Check out the Delta Hat, an asymmetrical cloche that's a blast to knit!

Wrapping up the Delta Hat KAL

August 31, 2015 1 Comment

Take a look at some of the amazing finished Delta Hats knitters have made during the Delta Hat knit along and find out who won the giveaway prizes.

Meet Balwen Woodworks | Hands Occupied

Meet Balwen Woodworks

August 18, 2015 Leave a Comment

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention something critical to the design process for my most recent pattern, the Delta Hat. The big difference between the Delta and other patterns I’ve released so far is that this one involves notions – buttons, to be precise. I wouldn’t be me, though, without finding some new and special way to put something unique into the design. In the Delta Hat’s case, it’s the button flap, designed with buttons from Balwen Woodworks.

Delta Hat Knit Along at Hands Occupied #DeltaHatKAL #bbrHandsOccupied

It’s the Delta Hat Knit Along!

August 10, 2015 2 Comments

I’m so excited to be partnering with Bijou Basin Ranch on this knit along for my new Delta Hat pattern. With a full rainbow of colors to choose from, I can’t wait to see the many color and button combos people knit Delta Hats in!

Spring Meadow Scarf Knit Along - Hands Occupied for All Free Knitting

Spring Meadow Scarf Knit Along Wrap-Up

June 29, 2015 Leave a Comment

The Spring Meadow Scarf Knit Along has come to an end, friends! You can visit the giveaway host, AllFreeKnitting, to find out who won the giveaway, and if you missed the week 6 tutorial video, it’s in this post!

Spring Meadow Scarf Knit Along Week 5

Spring Meadow Scarf KAL Week 5

June 16, 2015 1 Comment

Fern lace is one of my favorite lace patterns of all time, and in today, week 5 of 7 of the spring knit along, we’re getting the chance to knit another scarf section with it!

Spring Meadow Scarf Knit Along Week 4 - Learn how to knit star rib mesh!

Spring Meadow Scarf Knit Along Week 4

June 8, 2015 Leave a Comment

It’s the midway point of this knit along, friends! We’re at post 4 of 7, and we’re knitting the middle panel of the scarf this week.

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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 🧶✂️
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
Weaving in ends & seaming with mattress stitch are Weaving in ends & seaming with mattress stitch are both so useful for garment knitting! But for me, weaving in ends can feel like a chore while the latter feels like I’ve successfully done magic. 🧙🏻‍♀️ Does anybody else run into this phenomenon? Are you the opposite? Any theories as to why they feel different? 
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In this video, I’m finishing my brand new Intarsia Flower Pillow. 🌸 I’m working with @universal_yarn Uni Merino & the pattern is available at the 🔗 in my b1o. 
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#handsoccupied #intarsiaflowerpillow #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #knitting #colorwork #knitpillow #knittinginspiration #knittersofinstagram
I independently released a knitting pattern today, I independently released a knitting pattern today, my first in 5 years! The Intarsia Flower Pillow is a 16” (40cm) round pillow knit with an intentional combination of intarsia, stockinette, garter and seed stitch. This pillow has everything you need to level up your intarsia technique while also knitting something you can use. 
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This pillow allows you to practice knitting intarsia while simultaneously increasing and decreasing. The Intarsia Flower Pillow pattern was designed to be a little knit-nerdy for learning and a little cute, arming you with many of the skills you'd need to knit an intarsia sweater. 
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Intarsia Flower Pillow is available in the Hands Occupied Sh0p and on @hi.ravelry . You can read more about the pattern on the bl0g, the🔗 are where you’d think.
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YARN: @universal_yarn Uni Merino in Antiquity, Fjord and Conch / NEEDLES: US 2 (2.75 mm) / PATTERN: Intarsia Flower Pillow by Heidi Gustad
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