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Hands Occupied

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

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Knitting

Picks of the Week for August 7, 2020 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

August 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

It’s time for another installment of Picks of the Week! This go around, we’ve got lots of crochet, animal-inspired ideas, and a great article on yarn substitution. (Heck yeah!)

Picks of the Week for June 26, 2020 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

June 26, 2020 Leave a Comment

Punch needle, crochet & pom poms are all awesome summer-friendly craft ideas, especially for quick-gratification projects.

Picks of the Week for June 12, 2020 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

June 12, 2020 Leave a Comment

Scrolling through new summery yarn ideas can be creatively invigorating. There are different colors and fibers on display this time of year – check out these new ideas for the season!

Picks of the Week for May 15, 2020 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

May 15, 2020 Leave a Comment

Find standout project inspiration to refresh your to-make list.

Picks of the Week for December 13, 2019 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

December 13, 2019 Leave a Comment

It’s beginning to look festive out there! It’s mid-December, which means the winter holidays are in full-effect and holiday parties have begun. If you’re like me, you’ll be filling every minute not tethered to your to-do list looking to recharge your batteries. What better way than by curling up with a sneaky stitching project? This week, we’ve got ideas for holiday cross-stitch, sewing, and your favorite: yarn crafts. ;)

Read about one knitter's Christmas inspired take on the Soldotna Crop sweater pattern by Caitlin Hunter, including tips for customizing for fit!

A Christmasy Soldotna Crop / Handmade Wardrobe

December 10, 2019 1 Comment

Read about one knitter’s Christmas inspired take on the Soldotna Crop sweater pattern by Caitlin Hunter, including tips for customizing for fit!

Picks of the Week for November 15, 2019 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

November 15, 2019 Leave a Comment

Are you ready to stitch up a winter wonderland? The holidays are coming, so if you’re on the lookout for some quick gift knits, this week’s picks might have just the thing for you.

Just in time for Halloween! Get the free knitting chart for an adorable jack-o-lantern motif with intarsia or duplicate stitch. This free knitting pattern is just so much fun!

Smiling Jack-o’-Lantern Knitting Chart for Halloween

October 25, 2019 2 Comments

Just in time for Halloween! Get the free knitting chart for an adorable jack-o-lantern motif that can be worked with intarsia or duplicate stitch.

Picks of the Week for October 18, 2019 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

October 18, 2019 Leave a Comment

It’s cold out there – time to bust out all of the cold weather gear you’ve finished this summer, pals! And if you’re feeling like your fall accessory game could use some work, you’re in luck. Ear warmers, hats, cowls and mitts make great projects to finish in a week or less. Happy fall!

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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 🧶✂️
Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admitte Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admittedly insane) intarsia project. One day, this will be a seamed sweater, but today is not that day. 🧶 
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Have a good weekend, everyone! 
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Yarn: @universal_yarn’s Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Antarctica & Dragon’s Breath 
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#handsoccupied #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #wip #knitting
Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for e Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for easier continental style knitting. With this purling method, the working yarn says tensioned (held) at the back of your knitting at all times. For many knitters, always holding the yarn at the back helps with tension issues, as well as feeling a little more comfortable. 
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Have you ever encountered this style of purling before? If you’ve tried it, have you found it helps with your purl tension and knitting speed? I’m curious.
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For a written tutorial, visit handsoccupied-dot-com. For video, you guessed it, You2be. Both of these platforms allow for longer, more in-depth versions of this tutorial, including full transcripts, alt text & the ability to pause, slow down or speed up at will. (Like if you really want to learn this, I recommend using a platform that doesn’t keep your hands occupied. Thinking of putting this in all my captions these days tbh - shout out to you if you made it this far. 🙌🏻😂)
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#handsoccupied #learntoknit #continentalknitting #howtoknit #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #knit #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #knittinghack  #handknitting #handknit #norwegianpurling
Have you ever tried this style of purl? . All thi Have you ever tried this style of purl? 
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All this recent talk about throwing vs. continental style knitting made it clear many people struggle with purling in continental knitting. Turns out that Norway may have the answer! In Norwegian purling, the working yarn stays tensioned at the back at all times, helping with speed and tension. 🤯
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Head to the bl0g (🔗 in bi0) for a more in-depth look at how to work a Norwegian purl stitch, including a photo tutorial with animated GIF & a video tutorial. Wrapping your mind around how to work a stitch you’re familiar with in a totally new way can be confusing, so I tried to give a few options for clarity. 🤙🏻 Video is also on You2be. 
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#handsoccupied #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #norwegianpurling #continentalknitting #howtoknit #learntoknit #knitterofinstagram #knitters
It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or reintroduced myself, so here goes! I’m Heidi Gustad, a craft book author, pattern designer, and tutorial creator who specializes in yarn crafts. Lately, I’ve been focused on releasing quality knitting videos and related blog posts to help teach things like the difference between provisional cast ons and how to fix common knitting mistakes. Next week I’m shooting requested crochet and latch hook videos, so h👀kers, your time is coming! And if you ever have tutorial requests, please let me know. ☺️
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TLDR: I’m Heidi. I design & teach yarn crafts. You can find tutorials on my blog (est. 2010) & You2be. I also have several knitting & crochet patterns + a book about latch hook available. / All of these can be found on my website, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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#handsoccupied #fridayintroduction #heidigustad #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #yarncrafts #latchhookbook
Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Contine Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Continental or English Style? Here’s a quick overview of the differences between the two most common knitting styles, including a side by side comparison. (A good one to save for future reference. 👍🏻) 
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There’s more on the differences between picking and throwing in my latest blog post & You 2ube video - the l1nk is where you’d think!
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#handsoccupied #learntoknit #knittingstyles #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitter
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