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Hands Occupied

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

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olympics

Picks of the Week for February 9, 2018 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

February 9, 2018 2 Comments

The Olympics opening ceremony is today! For chronic Knitflixers and Olympics fiends, this is a time that only comes once every other year! An excellent excuse to stay up too late knitting entire sweaters, blankets, and accessories as you watch people’s lifelong dreams come to fruition. There’s nothing like it, and it pairs oh so well with our favorite hobbies. :)  

Olympic Rings Sunglasses at Hands Occupied

Olympic Rings Sunglasses

February 17, 2014 4 Comments

There are SO not enough Olympic themed crafts for adults floating around the DIY blogosphere. Today, I continue my crusade to change that with some medal-worthy sunglasses for cheering on your favorite team. Made with oven bake clay and some strong glue, these sunglasses are totally going to be something I whip out for every Olympic opening ceremony party, viewing party, closing ceremony party, watch party and Olympic bar crawl for the rest of my life. I’m so pumped about them!

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.

15 Olympic Crafts (that aren't just for kids!) at Hands Occupied

15 Olympic Crafts (that aren’t just for kids!)

February 6, 2014 3 Comments

When you search for Olympic crafts or DIYs, SO much of what you find is designed for kids. Kids are great, but I work with them for my job and I’m not a mom. I don’t want to do kid stuff in my off time, is that so bad? Bring on the Olympic rings jewelry, boozy DIYs, adorable baked goods, and Grecian accessories!

Olympic Crafts Roundup!

August 13, 2012 Leave a Comment

A look back at our 2012 Olympics projects.

How-to: Olympics-Inspired Knotted Metallic Belt | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Knotted Metallic Belt

August 6, 2012 1 Comment

Look like a goddess with this easy DIY belt.

How-to: Olympic Rings Tablescape | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Olympic Rings Tablescape

August 1, 2012 Leave a Comment

Turn a boring snack table into an adorable Olympic flag tablescape in no time!

How-to: Olympic Medals Necklace | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Olympic Medals Necklace

July 30, 2012 Leave a Comment

Show your Olympic spirit with this minimalist necklace featuring gold, silver and bronze “medals”. Go USA!

How-to: Bronze Laurel Headband

July 23, 2012 2 Comments

Channel a Greek goddess and celebrate the Olympics by making a bronze laurel leaf headband.

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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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Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
When you have four big skeins of pretty 2 ply yarn When you have four big skeins of pretty 2 ply yarn, you immediately think sweater, right? 
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My wardrobe could use another handmade sweater - I’m thinking something simple, seamed and with a decent amount of ease for potentially wearing tucked in with jeans or skirts. 🤔 
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Yarn: @universal_yarn Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Antarctica and Dragon’s Breath, wound in thick skeins of 100% superwash wool that’s a light DK weight.
How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style . How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style 
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In knitting, there are a few common knitting styles. Most often you’re going to encounter continental style and English (throwing) style on your knitting journey. I recently had an old video teaching continental style get a lot of views. Based on the comments, it was clear the people wanted to also see a throwing tutorial, so here you go! 🧶
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Please note that there is a LOT of variation in knitting styles, and one isn’t necessarily better than another. Most often, I’ve found it comes down to two things: how you were taught and whether or not you’re really into colorwork knitting (which can involve a mix of styles). 
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Longer-term knitters who’ve made it this far: do you prefer one over the other? And why? 
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#handsoccupied #englishknitting #learntoknit #knitting #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitting_inspiration
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
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I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
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I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
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The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
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I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
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What’s on your needles this week? 
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Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
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