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

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tassels

Picks of the Week for February 8, 2019 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

February 8, 2019 Leave a Comment

This week has been a great example of how cruddy weather can put one in the mood for making things. If you’re feeling up to crafting the winter blues away, check out this fun new crop of inspiration!

The Big Old Bias Knit Scarf is a free knitting pattern. It's perfect for experienced knitters looking for a palette cleanser (and a way to use up those yarn ends), but it's also good for beginners who want to make something that looks super elegant.

Big Old Bias Knit Scarf

February 19, 2018 18 Comments

There is something so elegant about knitting on the bias, a.k.a. knitting diagonally. While it’s just a matter of increasing on one edge of your work while decreasing at the same rate on the other edge, it elevates something like basic garter stitch with such simplicity.

This granny square-inspired crochet shawl is super fun to make because once you memorize how to work its easy stitch pattern, you can go to town until it's the size you want, or until you run out of yarn. A shawl like this one is the perfect way to show off your tassel skills, too!

Granny Tassel Shawl

August 2, 2017 4 Comments

This granny square-inspired crochet shawl is super fun to make. A shawl like this one is the perfect way to show off your tassel skills, too!

Get a professional knit & crochet designer's best tips & tricks for making perfect tassels every time. Click through for video tutorial!

Perfect Tassel Tips & Tricks

July 18, 2017 Leave a Comment

Learn the best tips for getting perfect tassels every time. Tassels are the fun part of yarn crafting – you don’t have to count stitches or take yourself too seriously when you make them. They can show off your yarn in different ways than standard patterns may allow, which can be really refreshing!

Picks of the Week for June 23, 2017 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

June 23, 2017 Leave a Comment

It’s getting to be the part of the summer when it’s too darn hot to move outside! Good thing shade-friendly projects like these are there to keep us occupied during the hottest days of the year.

Picks of the Week for May 26, 2017 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

May 26, 2017 Leave a Comment

It’s a long weekend, so that means we’ve got an extra day to get our craft on! If you’re looking for something new to tack on your own to-make list, check these out!

Picks of the Week for April 21, 2017 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

April 21, 2017 1 Comment

Sometimes you need a quick little pick me up of a project, and all of these fit the bill!

Picks of the Week for March 17, 2017 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

March 17, 2017 1 Comment

It may be St. Patrick’s Day, but I have very little green yarn for you in today’s picks. (Please don’t pinch me too hard!)

Picks of the Week for August 5, 2016 | Hands Occupied

Picks of the Week

August 5, 2016 Leave a Comment

We’re at the point in the summer where kids start to get really bored. At the library I’ve got more kiddos reading than ever, more playing games than ever, and more getting into squabbles with each other at the same time. I think the collective internet had the same stir-crazy realization this week because there are a bunch of new kid-friendly yarn ideas out this week.

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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 🧶✂️
When you have four big skeins of pretty 2 ply yarn When you have four big skeins of pretty 2 ply yarn, you immediately think sweater, right? 
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My wardrobe could use another handmade sweater - I’m thinking something simple, seamed and with a decent amount of ease for potentially wearing tucked in with jeans or skirts. 🤔 
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Yarn: @universal_yarn Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Antarctica and Dragon’s Breath, wound in thick skeins of 100% superwash wool that’s a light DK weight.
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
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