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Hands Occupied

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

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patterns

10 Inspiring new patterns to try this spring - click through for where to get your hands on them all!

Things To Knit

April 20, 2015 1 Comment

Take a look at 10 newly-released knitting patterns to add to your to-knit list this month.

10 Inspiring new patterns to try this spring - click through for where to get your hands on them all!

Things to Knit

March 17, 2015 Leave a Comment

This collection of 10 recently-published patterns features inspiring ideas with bold color and construction. Check out these short sleeves, lacy wraps, and lightweight accessories for spring!

Picks of the Week for March 6, 2015 at handsoccupied.com

Picks of the Week

March 6, 2015 Leave a Comment

As it’s officially March, we’re starting to see early signs of spring on blogs and in new pattern releases from designers. This transitional time tends to bring lighter outerwear, sweaters, and non-garment ideas.

10 Amazing Knitting Patterns to Try

Things to Knit

February 9, 2015 6 Comments

This post features 10 knitting patterns that have recently caught my eye and are now on my to-knit list.

Picks of the Week for August 22, 2014 at handsoccupied.com

Picks of the Week

August 22, 2014 4 Comments

While last week’s knitting and crochet ideas all smacked of fall, the internet must be trying to enjoy the most of the last weeks of summer this week. There were some great summery ideas to be found! I also came across a lovely Katniss-from-Catching-Fire cowl pattern and some really epic dog-themed mittens. There were so, so many good ideas this week for knitting and crochet, this particular batch of ideas are all exceptionally good, across the board.

Picks of the Week for August 8, 2014 at handsoccupied.com

Picks of the Week

August 8, 2014 3 Comments

It’s Friday, and it’s Shark Week, and it’s Chicago Yarn Crawl week! There’s still a month left of summer, too! Life is good, and the weather is too (here in Midwestern America), so I’ve got nothing to complain about. I’ve got a bundle of knitting and crochet to work on this weekend, including all of the fine inspiration below to keep my brain yarn-occupied. :) TGIF!

Knitting & Crochet Picks of the Week at handsoccupied.com

Weekly Reader

July 18, 2014 Leave a Comment

TGIF! I had a big work week, and we are still painting our lovely living room. I’m beat! We’ve got great high ceilings which are so fun in real life, but in painting life, are not my favorite thing ever. But I digress. :) The internet gave us some really elegant, Pottery Barn-lookin’ designs this week! Patterns that would knit or crochet up right quick and really class up your abode… and they’d probably do it much more efficiently than a big home DIY project. Like painting – just saying.

Knitting & Crochet Picks of the Week at handsoccupied.com

Weekly Reader

July 4, 2014 Leave a Comment

Happy Fourth of July, American readers! And happy Friday, everyone everywhere else! :) I’m spending America’s birthday at home with family in North Dakota, where the fireworks over the prairie are amazing. I can’t wait to share a little bit next week about the HOT (you read that right!), summer side of Fargo you don’t get to see in the media and let you guys get to know me a little better. After all, the lovely folks who have responded to the currently-live reader survey so far are saying they want to get to know yours truly a little better.

Top Knitting And Crochet Inspiration at handsoccupied.com

Weekly Reader

May 30, 2014 Leave a Comment

I’ve been experimenting with a new format for my Weekly Reader recently, and I think I’ve finally got it! Every Friday, I round up my favorite yarny finds, and then when I do other inspiration posts, I pick a different theme. The next big hurdle for me as a blogger, which has been a hurdle of mine for awhile now, will be actually opening up and sharing more of my personality. For now, I’m still most comfortable with being a teensy bit opaque and continuing my grand tradition of simply sharing my overwhelming enthusiasm for DIY and knitting. For now. :)

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

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
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
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
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I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
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#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
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