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Hands Occupied

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, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Weekend knitting design aftermath. Remember kids, Weekend knitting design aftermath. Remember kids, it’s always good to stop, swatch and block it. 🧶
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#stopswatchandblockit #handsoccupied
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
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