• 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

knitting pattern

Meet the Sixth Degree Shawl. Cast on this gorgeous, free pattern designed with American made, ethically-sourced yarn!

Sixth Degree Shawl

May 9, 2016 19 Comments

In case this isn’t incredibly obvious by now, I love knitting shawls. I’m obsessed with playing with the geometry possibilities, the outfit possibilities, and the chance to show off some beautiful yarn on the canvas that is a big, flat piece of knitting. This new shawl pattern began as a wee experiment with making a shawl featuring increases along one side of the work every few rows, which forms a right triangle. I love the fact that the yarn over increases are hidden in this piece’s chain edge and the wide, diagonal ribs are formed by simply alternating groups of 6 knit and purl stitches, hence the name Sixth Degree Shawl. I hope you enjoy knitting this as much as I did!

Get your hands on this adorable pattern for a knit stocking cap ornament! Click through for the FREE pattern.

Knit Stocking Cap Ornament – 12 Ornaments of Christmas

November 25, 2015 2 Comments

Add a bit of warmth to your tree with a snuggly little stocking cap ornament. This wee hat is scrap yarn-friendly and quick to make!

A cute pattern for a knit gift box ornament for the holidays! Click through for the free pattern.

Knit Gift Box Ornament – 12 Ornaments of Christmas

November 23, 2015 Leave a Comment

Oh, what’s that? For me? Celebrate the season by making a festive little gift box ornament!

Knit Heart Ornament - Click through for a free knitting pattern for this cute star ornament, which also makes a great tree star, gift topper or baby toy!

Knit Heart Ornament – 12 Ornaments of Christmas

November 16, 2015 1 Comment

Even if you don’t want to knit up this sweet little heart as an ornament, it easily doubles as a nice gift topper or baby toy. As a gift, this simple knit heart could cheer even the humbuggiest of Scrooges!

Knit Star Ornament - Click through for a free knitting pattern for this cute star ornament, which also makes a great tree star, gift topper or baby toy!

Knit Star Ornament & The 12 Ornaments of Christmas

November 12, 2015 9 Comments

Between now and December 25, I’m going to share 12 ornaments for Christmas, all of which will be a free knitting pattern, crochet pattern or a yarn craft. I’ve got some great ideas planned for this series that I’m super excited about, so let’s kick things off with a sweet, knitted star.

Get your hands on Howdy Ombré, the flexible bandana pattern from Hands Occupied.

Howdy Ombré!

July 15, 2015 3 Comments

A new pattern joins the Hands Occupied Pattern Shop today! An ombre bandana whose flexibility of wear, coupled with its beautiful color palette, make this a piece I cannot stop wearing.

Cast on a pair of Turtle Mitts, the cute new pattern from Heidi Gustad of Hands Occupied

Announcing the Hands Occupied Pattern Shop! (+ a giveaway!)

June 15, 2015 18 Comments

I’m very excited to announce that I’ve listed my first for-sale pattern on Ravelry, launching the Hands Occupied pattern shop. The inaugural pattern is for Turtle Mitts, a pair of hand warmers designed to fit close to the skin, but doesn’t lay so high on your hands that they affect dexterity.

Click to get the Classic Slouchy Beanie knitting pattern for free!

Classic Slouchy Beanie

April 13, 2015 4 Comments

Who doesn’t need a slouchy beanie? They’re great for everything from keeping warm to making a fashion statement to even covering a bad hair day!

The Hat Hat | Hands Occupied

The Hat Hat

January 26, 2015 33 Comments

What better name for this than The Hat Hat? Made with Australian Superfine Merino wool, this hat is lightweight enough to be worn year-round if you love accessorizing with a beanie that won’t make your head sweat.

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to page 5
  • 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