• 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
    • YouTube

knewbies

Click through for a free pattern for a Bulky Knit Throw (or rug!)

Bulky Throw

April 28, 2015 69 Comments

Check out this free pattern for a knit blanket that works up quickly and is totally beginner-friendly!

Click through for a free pattern for a Bulky Knit Rug (or throw!)

Bulky Knit Rug Pattern

March 23, 2015 52 Comments

I have wanted to knit a bulky area rug for my office for years, and I finally found the right combo of yarn and needles to do it. What’s so great about this design is its beginner-friendliness. You only need to knit and purl to make this room-warming 5×7′ rug.

Chunky Ribbed Cowl - Click through for the free knitting pattern!

Chunky Ribbed Cowl & How to Knit Rib Stitch

March 16, 2015 1 Comment

Spring has almost sprung, but that doesn’t mean cowl weather has left us just yet. Knit yourself a quick and easy chunky cowl to help keep a stiff spring breeze off your neck with this beginner friendly Chunky Ribbed Cowl Pattern.

How to do a purl stitch - knitting 101 tutorial with video

Knewbies | How to Purl

March 9, 2015 Leave a Comment

Learn how to master the second most important stitch you need to know in knitting, the purl stitch.

Knewbies | How to Bind Off | Hands Occupied

Knewbies | How to Bind Off

March 4, 2015 Leave a Comment

Casting on, learning a stitch or two, and binding off are the three skills you need as a knitter to do a project from start to finish on your own. Check out this tutorial for how to knit a basic bind off.

The Newbie Fringe Scarf - A free beginner pattern!

Newbie Fringe Scarf Pattern

March 2, 2015 2 Comments

This absolute beginner-friendly pattern is knit entirely in garter stitch, which means you only have to know how to do a basic cast on, knit stitch, and a basic bind off.

How to read yarn labels - an easy guide to understanding what each symbol means for your knitting projects

Knewbies | How to Read Yarn Labels

February 16, 2015 6 Comments

Long time knitters know that you need to understand your yarn labels to know how to make & take care of the things you knit. Even beginning knitters need to know what all the little symbols and weights and dye lots (etc.) mean to be a successful knitter. Today I’m going to go over what to look for in your yarn labels, whether you’re looking at big box craft store yarns or indie handspun & dyed yarns.

How to do a knit stitch - knitting 101 tutorial with video

Knewbies | How to knit

February 11, 2015 8 Comments

Also known as the first day of your knitting life, the day you learn how to do a knit stitch is an important one. Just like anything else, it takes a bit of practice to get it down, but once your muscles memorize the rhythm of the knit stitch, basic knitting will become the knitting-is-the-new-yoga type of relaxing that you hear people talk about.

What do you buy when you're learning to knit from scratch? Check out this list of beginner supplies!

Knewbies | Supply List & Basic Cast On

February 4, 2015 3 Comments

The first Knewbies post is finally here! For those of you have never visited the blog before, welcome! And for anyone who is brand new to knitting, I’m hoping you’re as excited to learn to knit as I am about writing these tutorials. :)

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • 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.

UPDATES BY EMAIL

Monthly highlights sent to your inbox.

Find Me Elsewhere, If You’re There

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

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Yarn craft designer & author. Into intarsia knits, latch hook, color & vintage-modern style.
❤️ Email for pattern support
👇🏻 Book, Patterns, Tutorials

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Sneaking in a few stitches in the shade. 😎 Sneaking in a few stitches in the shade. 😎
Another morning of filming! One of the knitting vi Another morning of filming! One of the knitting videos I’d like to release soon is a big overview of how to swatch and why - if you have any questions or favorite tips, let me know. 
.
To be honest, I want to be able to link to this video as a resource when I get angry gauge questions, so please don’t hesitate to share your best tips. Together, we can tame the knitting Karens. 😆
.
#stopswatchandblockit #handsoccupied #knitting #knittersofinstagram
A big issue I've had in the last year is putting t A big issue I've had in the last year is putting together new design work but not doing any independent releases of them. Chalk it up to anxiety, burn out, or whatever but here we are. 
.
Last week I turned 35, so in honor of that here’s 3 things: 
❤️ a picture of me at my most stylish 
💛 a little glimpse at some of the design things I've recently been working on
💙a promise that I will be releasing some of the pictured designs this year. Getting back in the swing of things after taking it easy is hard 😆 - wish me luck!
Like a riding a bike! June guarded the neighborhoo Like a riding a bike! June guarded the neighborhood while I shot a new crochet tutorial today. With any luck, editing will go smoothly & I’ll be posting new videos to YouTube regularly soon! Got any requests for tutorial topics? 
.
#handsoccupied #crochet #studiodog #crochettutorial
This yoke deserved a mid-blocking closeup, don’t This yoke deserved a mid-blocking closeup, don’t you think? ❤️💛💙
.
Pattern: modified #soldotnacrop sweater / yarn: various from my stash
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy