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Hands Occupied

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

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The Bijou Basin Ranch yaks enjoy some hay! - Take a look inside the yaks' lives in this mini documentary.

Throwback Thursday: Bijou Basin Ranch

June 23, 2016 Leave a Comment

Who knew you could make such gorgeous things with yak yarn?

Sponsor Spotlight - May 2016, Hands Occupied

Sponsor Spotlight

May 25, 2016 Leave a Comment

Today we’re taking a look at three yarn industry companies I’ve had the pleasure of designing for. All three of these have become favorites of mine. I fee like I always say this about yarn companies, but everyone I know who works for them is honestly really nice and passionate about what they do. Maybe that’s why I love the yarn world so much!

April Sponsor Spotlight at Hands Occupied

Sponsor Spotlight

April 21, 2016 Leave a Comment

Once again, we welcome Bijou Basin Ranch and Feel Good Yarn Company as sponsors this month, and I’m not mad about it.

March Sponsor Spotlight at Hands Occupied

Sponsor Spotlight

March 24, 2016 Leave a Comment

I’m so excited to have two favorite yarn companies as our sponsors this month! Each company makes yarns that feature special ingredients: Bijou Basin Ranch uses yak fiber in many of their yarns, and Feel Good Yarn Co. uses pure silver. Let’s take a closer look!

Get a free knitting pattern for an Outlander-inspired shawl, the Outlander Chevron Shawl from Hands Occupied

Get to know Bijou Basin Ranch + A Giveaway!

February 18, 2016 4 Comments

Get to know Bijou Basin Ranch and enter to win a skein of 100% cashmere yarn!

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.

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!

September Sponsor Spotlight at Hands Occupied

September Sponsor Spotlight

September 9, 2015 Leave a Comment

All four of our sponsors this month are women-driven companies based in the U.S. I love getting to spend time getting to know new yarn industry companies because it reminds me of one of the best things about being active in this community: the people. So many yarn industry folks have interesting stories to tell, and here are just a few worth getting to know!

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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, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Learn how to do the magic loop method for knitting Learn how to do the magic loop method for knitting in the round in 90 seconds. / Using the magic loop allows knitters to work in the round with a single, long circular needle at a range of circumferences. 
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For a longer, full-width & more detailed overview of magic loop knitting, check out my u2be & b1og, the 🔗🔗 are where you’d think. 🧶
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#handsoccupied #magicloop #knitting #howtoknit #learntoknit #knitter #knittinginspiration #knittinginstagram #knittingintheround
Since it won’t be clean for long, swipe to see w Since it won’t be clean for long, swipe to see what my home studio looks like these days. Nothing will ever quite be like the old Hands Occupied Studio, but I’m pretty pleased with how I shoehorned everything in this space. Function over form + a layer of yarn cuteness-meets-chaos is how I’d describe my creative space needs. 😆 When I was still renting the studio, those needs included “doesn’t rain suspicious brown water from a crack in the ceiling for a year,” so this is an improvement! 😆
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For a time lapse of the studio organizing and tszuj-ing process, scroll down a couple posts on my feed. (There’s also a video or two featuring the old studio if you’re curious.) Happy June, friends! 
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#handsoccupied #handsoccupiedstudio #knitdesigner #craftdesign #yarncrafts #latchhook #makerlife #heidigustad #chicagocrafter
Who doesn’t love magic loop knitting? Who doesn’t know what it is? How about when circular needles were invented?
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In todays new bl0g post + video tutorial, you’ll learn about the magic loop method for knitting in the round, how to do it and why to use it, and when it came to be. The 🔗 is in my b1o. 🧶 
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#handsoccupied #magicloop #knitting #howtoknit #knittinginspiration #knittingintheround
Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches on my home studio. After losing my studio space last fall, it’s feels really great to *occupy* this new space all the way. 😉
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I started by removing general clutter & returning straggler supplies from various WIPs, videos & design deadlines to their homes. Next, I hung a third peg board in the space - this one is mostly for display and less for organizing tools or projects. For the first time ever, I’m displaying projects from my book, plus a couple other faves. (The best thing about designing more yarn crafts besides knit & crochet is that I have some really fun -and delightfully pettable 😆- samples around.) I finished by adding a square dowel to my small supply storage tower to keep it from tipping over, plus re-arranging and de-cluttering the closet. 
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This cleaner space already has me feeling so much more creative and less overwhelmed. Now to find a safe spot in the basement for the tower of project samples in Rubbermaid tubs I liberated from my WIPs closet. Also why are there five?! 
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Here’s to keeping it clean for a few weeks! 🧶 
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#handsocupied #handsoccupiedstudio #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #yarncraft #knitter #crocheter #latchhook #latchhookbook
It’s a disaster in here and my video microphone It’s a disaster in here and my video microphone isn’t cooperating, but it could be worse! How’s your day? 
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(If we haven’t yet met, I’m Heidi and I’m a pattern designer and tutorial creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting & latch hook. You can learn more about my work and regularly find new tutorials in my profile. ☺️👋🏻)
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#handsoccupied #craftstudio #knitter #yarncrafter
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