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Hands Occupied

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

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rug making

Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker by Heidi Gustad, now available!

My book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is now available!

October 20, 2020 Leave a Comment

Stop (or start?) the presses! My first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is now available. Learn where to get your hands on a copy to infuse your yarn crafting with a bit of JOY!

A copy of Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker (2020) by Heidi Gustad on a red background

Latch Hook Book Unboxing & Project Preview Video!

October 9, 2020 3 Comments

Watch Heidi react to seeing a copy of her first book for the first time. Join her for a flip through the book and a look at the projects you can make with Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker!

Learn how to make this bomb popsicle-inspired latch hook wall hanging with a free pattern and tutorial from Hands Occupied.

Bomb Popsicle Latch Hook Pattern & Tutorial

September 16, 2020 Leave a Comment

Learn how to make this bomb popsicle-inspired latch hook wall hanging with a free pattern and tutorial. Latch hook is making a comeback – are you ready? ;)

Learn how to bind latch hook project edges using whip stitch with this step by step photo tutorial on the Hands Occupied Blog.

Whip Stitch Binding in Latch Hook

August 10, 2020 Leave a Comment

Learn how to bind latch hook project edges using whip stitch with this step by step photo tutorial.

Finishing Nooks and Crannies in Latch Hook Tutorial: The hardest part of finishing non-square latch hook projects is dealing with nooks and crannies. Learn how to successfully finish small, fiddly latch hook edges with this in-depth tutorial featuring my best tips and tricks for finishing challenging latch hook project edges to achieve contemporary handmade rugs.

How to Finish Nooks & Crannies in Latch Hook

July 13, 2020 Leave a Comment

The hardest part about finishing latch hook projects is dealing with small nooks and crannies. What do you do when your edge has no seam allowance? What to do when edges are fraying before your eyes? Learn how to troubleshoot challenging finishing spots in this tutorial.

Non-Square Latch Hook Finishing Tutorial: Not all rug making projects have to be square, but finishing a latch hook project without square corners involves a different technique. Learn how to finish latch hook projects without square corners in this in-depth tutorial that helps you make modern latch hook projects!

Non-Square Latch Hook Finishing Tutorial

July 8, 2020 Leave a Comment

Not all rug making projects have to be square! Learn how to finish latch hook projects with curved and diagonal edges in this in-depth tutorial that helps you make modern latch hook projects.

A sneak peek at some of the design inspiration for Heidi Gustad's upcoming Latch Hook Book, fall 2020.

Latch Hook Book Design Inspo

May 29, 2020 Leave a Comment

An early sneak peek at the inspiration behind my new latch hook book, which publishes fall 2020!

Learn how to make these planet-inspired punch needle throw pillows using embroidery hoops!

Planetary Punch Needle Pillows

November 6, 2019 Leave a Comment

Learn how to make these planet-inspired punch needle throw pillows using embroidery hoops!

I got this wild idea to make a giant pom pom costume using latch hook, so I gave it a go for Halloween. Take a closer look at this three dimensional rug-making project and its construction.

Attempting a Giant Pom Pom Costume

October 31, 2019 4 Comments

I got this wild idea to make a giant pom pom costume using latch hook, so I gave it a go for Halloween. Take a closer look at this three dimensional rug-making project and its construction.

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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), and I’ve been helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010. I got my start here, as a blogger, and since then I’ve shared more than a few tutorials here and on YouTube as I’ve grown as a pattern designer. 🧶 

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Latch Hook by Heidi Gustad

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handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer helping makers untangle various techniques with a blog & YouTube channel
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Happy with how the mini Nightmare Before Christmas Happy with how the mini Nightmare Before Christmas sweater vest turned out! Now my dog and I can go on walks in matching seasonal fits 😂
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1. I knit this bottom up with scraps and ran out of black yarn. If the vest consistently drifts down her chest upon wear, I might extend the collar or redo the chest panel at a smaller size. If you’ve read this far, what do you think? As a designer, I so rarely get to improvise a knitting project, and I’m having fun working with fewer rules than usual. 🧶
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2. June has a grooming appointment this weekend. She’s currently the mayor of scruff town, I know. 🫡
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Pattern: Chart is from the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern by yours truly in the official Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book 
Yarn: @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted
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#spiralhillsweatervest #spiralhillsweatervestkal #handsoccupied #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook #dogknit #knitsfordogs #handmade #brooklyntweed
I finished June’s doggie version of the Spiral H I finished June’s doggie version of the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest & it’s so cute! 🥰
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Do you think June appreciates the fact that she now has a sweater made with @brooklyntweed yarn? 😂 
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#handsoccupied #dogsweater #dogjumper #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #spiralhillsweatervest #spiralhillsweatervestkal #handmade #brooklyntweedimbue #brooklyntweed
Squeezing in some stitching on a selfish sweater t Squeezing in some stitching on a selfish sweater this Saturday morning 😋
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Pattern: Fruit Stripe Pullover with some intarsia mods on the front panel 
Designed by Rachel Brockman for @universal_yarn 
Yarn: Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Dragon’s Breath & Antarctica 🧶
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#handsoccupied #knitting #weekendknitting #sweaterknitting #universalyarn #fibranaturacobblestone
As a yarn craft designer and former librarian, rev As a yarn craft designer and former librarian, review copies of craft books get sent my way from time to time. It's awesome, but I'm always looking for new, quick ways to share them with you. Today's experiment: a mini review of the new crochet book Hooked on Shakespeare: Crochet Projects Inspired by the Bard. A review copy was provided by the publisher. 
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Book: Hooked on Shakespeare by Gurinder Kaur Hatchard  @yay_for_crochet 
Publisher: @herbert.press / @bloomsburybooksus 
Number of projects: 15
Hardcover, 128 pages
Retail price $22/£14.99
Uses UK crochet terms, not US. My copy came with a conversion table (pictured).
Good for: literary enthusiasts, amigurumi crocheters
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Overall, this is a really cute book that would make a wonderful gift. Each of the 15 Shakespearean works covered features patterns for a few characters from the story. The styled photography is fantastic, with whimsical backgrounds highlighting each pattern. Includes some step-by-step instructions with photos and how to crochet tutorials at the back. I'm highly on board with the name of the last pattern in the book, "Wooliam Shakespeare". 👏🏻 
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If you made it this far, thanks for reading! I'm always trying to figure out the best way to share these new titles, and this is a first try at a new format. So if you have any feedback (if I should include more/less detail, more photos, video, etc.), please let me know. 
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#handsoccupied #bookreview #craftbook #craftbooks #crochet #crochetbook #crochetersofinstagram #crochetinspiration
New post & video tutorial are live! How to weave i New post & video tutorial are live! How to weave in intarsia ends, including avoiding holes at joins, how many ends to weave in one spot, when to use duplicate stitch, and more. Everything is on the bl0g, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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P.S. I feel like this video took forever to edit, so thanks for your patience as I worried too much over small details. 😜
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#handsoccupied #intarsia #howtoknitintarsia #intarsiaknitting #pictureknitting #weavinginends #knitter #spiralhillsweatervest #spiralhillsweatervestkal
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