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Hands Occupied

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

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poststitch

Get your hands on the Funkasonic Mittens & Mukulks patterns on Ravelry & find tutorials to help you knit them on HandsOccupied.com!

Funkasonic Knit Along Wrap Up

February 1, 2016 Leave a Comment

A look back at the Funkasonic Knit Along and some of the best snaps of the series!

Learn how to bind off a project by grafting ends together. Click through for an easy video tutorial on how to bind off with kitchener stitch.

How to Bind Off with Kitchener Stitch

January 25, 2016 Leave a Comment

This method of finishing a project results in a seamless finished look, despite being seamed. Using the kitchener stitch to finish cuff down mittens and socks is particularly excellent because the finished result isn’t lumpy, which is great to avoid discomfort on sensitive fingers and toes that lumpy finishes can cause.

January Sponsor Spotlight at Hands Occupied

Sponsor Spotlight

January 21, 2016 Leave a Comment

I couldn’t do what I do here as a blogger without the support of the yarn community. From you, the readers, to the yarn and other needlearts companies I’ve been able to partner with, I love running this blog.

Learn how to knit a short row heel turn to master cuff down socks. Click through for the video tutorial.

How to Knit a Short Row Heel Turn / Funkasonic KAL

January 18, 2016 1 Comment

Turning a sock heel can be daunting, particularly for first time sock knitters. Turning a sock heel for the first time using a new method can take a minute to wrap your head around. Turning a sock heel using two colors complicates things. Learn how to defeat a short row heel turn with this video tutorial.

Learn one simple trick to knit linen stitch with neat edges. Take your knitting to the next level with this easy video tutorial that helps SO MUCH when knitting socks, scarves and cowls.

How to Knit Neat Linen Stitch Edges / Funkasonic KAL

January 14, 2016 12 Comments

Learn one simple trick to knit neat linen stitch edges. Take your knitting to the next level with this easy video tutorial that helps SO MUCH when knitting socks, scarves and cowls.

Learn how to knit jogless stripes with an easy video tutorial - click through to view.

Jogless Stripes & Linen Stitch / Funkasonic KAL

January 11, 2016 Leave a Comment

Today’s Funkasonic knit along post is about the details. There are little details written into both Funkasonic patterns to help add some visual texture and strength to the finished pattern or help hide where the round begins.

Knit the Funkasonic Mittens & Funkasonic Mukluks to keep toasty this winter!

Start the new year with the Funkasonic Knit Along! (+ giveaway!)

December 31, 2015 Leave a Comment

Why yes, you’re seeing that correctly! That’s TWO new, coordinating patterns from yours truly. I’m kicking off the new year with two patterns I’ve dubbed Funkasonic for their mesmerizing use of stripes! While they’re officially being released in my pattern shop on Friday, January 15, I’ve teamed up with PostStitch and Ewe Ewe Yarns to bring you a super special knit along with these two totally funky patterns this January.

November Sponsor Spotlight at Hands Occupied

November Sponsor Spotlight

December 1, 2015 1 Comment

Get to know the Hands Occupied sponsors for November.

October Sponsor Spotlight at Hands Occupied

October Sponsor Spotlight

October 29, 2015 Leave a Comment

October is on its way out, which means it’s about time I highlight the great sponsors we have on board this month!

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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

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
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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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. 🤙🏻 
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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. 
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#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. 
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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. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
If only knitting a whole project took 39 seconds… 😮‍💨 
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In this video, you can see how the Intarsia Flower Pillow pattern knits up - two flat panels, one with intarsia, both are blocked, and then they’re seamed. Find the pattern on @hi.ravelry & my website, just search Intarsia Flower Pillow. 🌸 
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P.S. I’m really smiling in this video while seaming the pillow, so I guess I’m proving last week’s claim that I truly enjoy that sometimes-dreaded task. 😆🫣
In knitting, a Left Lifted Increase (LLI) lets you In knitting, a Left Lifted Increase (LLI) lets you add a stitch in between two columns of stitches that leans to the left. Similar to an M1L, LLIs allow you to increase nearly invisibly.
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To learn more about lifted increases, including when to use them and how they differ from Make 1s, head to the 🔗 in my profle. 
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Have you ever used lifted increases? I used M1’s almost exclusively for a long time when I needed to inc between stitches, but when I designed the Intarsia Flower Pillow pattern, I needed something that would allow me to increase a lot near my cast on, and M1’s resulted in edge curling. The more you know! 🌈 
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Yarn: @lionbrandyarn Wool Ease from my Stash / Neddles: @boyeyarncrafts - Just remembered these are the needles I learned to knit on at age 8. 😂
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#handsoccupied #knitting #learntoknit #howtoknit #sweaterknitting #knitinspiration #knittersofinstagram #liftedincreases
Last week I got to hang out with my family & helpe Last week I got to hang out with my family & helped babysit my red-headed niece and nephew. So here’s some plane knitting, and a couple pictures (shared with permission) of my babysitting adventures.
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Lessons learned: 1️⃣ Trying to knit around 2 toddlers, 2 cats & 2 large dogs is pretty hard. 2️⃣ I learned during water color time that pink and black make “colorful black.” 🩷🖤 3️⃣ Toddlers do NOT care about your rainbow sorting of their toys. 4️⃣ Toddlers are very good at finding mischief in a very short amount of time, what a surprise. 😂
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#handsoccupied #knitting #placesyoucanknit #knitters #knitinpublic #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration
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