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Hands Occupied

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

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scarf

Picks of the Week for November 25, 2016 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

November 25, 2016 2 Comments

Take advantage of free blog patterns & tutorials that work up quickly to make handmade gifts a breeze!

Picks of the Week for November 18, 2016 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

November 18, 2016 Leave a Comment

It appears neck warming season is here! I’d wager there are more scarf and cowl patterns out there than any other type of knit or crochet accessory. With so many great options to try, why not whip up a new scarf or cowl for yourself this weekend?

Looking for something to crochet? Get your hooks into one of these new, to-die-for crochet patterns!

Things to Crochet

November 9, 2016 1 Comment

There’s something so whimsical about crochet! It’s so so perfect for creating structural objects like toys, hats and hooded garments, even for beginners. Crochet is just fun to do, and a great way to change up your crafting routine. Why not try one of these great new patterns this fall?

Picks of the Week for October 28, 2016 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

October 28, 2016 1 Comment

Now that Halloween is upon us, the blogs are sharing some lovely patterns, tutorials and ideas that are so perfect for fall! It’s nice to be in this little non-season-specific bubble for a week or two before the holidays descend, don’t you think?

Picks of the Week for October 21, 2016 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

October 21, 2016 1 Comment

It’s still warm enough to take yarn projects outdoors this week. Why not pair the weather with a nice fall yarn project?

12 free knit and crochet patterns to help you stitch away stress.

12 Patterns to Help Stitch Away Stress

April 11, 2016 3 Comments

The one in which I open up (a little) about my anxiety. Mostly check out 12 easy-to-make knit and crochet patterns that are perfect for helping you stitch away stress. :)

Leucadia is a new knitting pattern from designer Heidi Gustad, featuring undulating lace bordered with eyelets for a lightweight, elegant and adaptable wrap. Pattern is available as a Ravelry download, click through for the link.

Meet Leucadia!

February 22, 2016 Leave a Comment

Leucadia is Heidi’s newest knitting pattern, featuring undulating lace bordered with eyelets for a lightweight, elegant and adaptable wrap. Pattern is available as a Ravelry download, click through for the link.

Picks of the Week for February 19, 2016 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

February 19, 2016 1 Comment

Anybody else find themselves in the mood to knit home accessories this week? I can’t quite put my finger on what is drawing me to work on projects for the home right now (maybe it’s the season change?), but I’m not mad about it.

Click through to get a free pattern for the Quad Cable Scarf by Heidi Gustad

Quad Cable Scarf

February 8, 2016 4 Comments

This scarf is a quick and snuggly knit thanks to using a nice, bulky yarn. And the featured cable makes it complicated enough that you won’t get bored knitting a classic scarf. A win/win!

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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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