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Hands Occupied

Contemporary yarn crafts by Heidi Gustad. Knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame.

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Making My Way Through The Rest of 2020

November 24, 2020 Leave a Comment

A still from the new @handsoccupied TikTok page, specifically a video explaining the different names for yarn balls.
A still from the new @handsoccupied TikTok, specifically a video explaining the different types of yarn balls.

It’s been a minute since I’ve done an update about what’s going on in Hands Occupied land, and there’s enough news to share to fill up a whole blog post! I recently realized that taking on a larger, challenging project as well as a fun one might help me cope with the rest of this, uh, wild year.

First off, I’ve taken on a massive (and sadly secret for now!) intarsia knitting design project with an end-of-year deadline to give myself something difficult to focus my maker brain on, a.k.a. a great anxiety coping mechanism! Secondly, since I also like to give myself something fun to challenge myself with sometimes, I decided to dip my toe into the colorful world of TikTok for the first time. (Way to be on the cutting edge, Heidi! 😂)

As is often the case, the design deadline is secret, but there may be some behind-the-scenes glimpses here and there on Instagram as there are with all massive craft undertakings of mine. I wasn’t kidding when I said this project was a whopper… 😯

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️ (@handsoccupied)

Toks and Apps and Reels, oh my! 

If apps and tiktoks and such things make you dizzy, I don’t judge you at all. Feel free to scroll on by.

TikTok, on the other hand, I can tell you a little more about! (Disclosure: I am receiving funding from TikTok’s Creative Learning Fund to produce content for the platform. This blog post is NOT sponsored.) TikTok’s Creative Learning Fund program is designed to get more educational content on the app, so basically it means I get to create short yarn craft tutorials for beginners. I’m having fun learning to edit video in a new style, and it’s been a great way to meet new makers! If you don’t have a TikTok, don’t worry, I’m embedding a few videos below and you can visit the online version of my profile here. I’ve also been cross-posting some funner videos to my Instagram Reels since I know a lot of you are active there. 

@handsoccupied

Hi, I’m Heidi from Hands Occupied! Here’s what I’m about. ❤️💛💙 ##tiktokpartner ##learnontiktok ##crafttok ##latchhook ##knitting

♬ MI MUNDO – Nomad & Lola

I’m focusing on my 4 favorite yarn crafts on TikTok: knitting, crochet, latch hook, and macramé, and it’s bringing me back to my days as a Teen Services Librarian. For my fellow educator types, you’ll understand the strange joy of making quick, easy-to-digest educational materials that can enable people to self-teach (is that way beyond nerdy to admit?). My plan is to keep sharing these 101-level videos on both TikTok and Instagram for the next few months, and who knows? Maybe we’ll have even more makers to bring into the fold at the end of it.

I haven’t forgotten about YouTube :)

Not to worry, I’ve got a much-requested video in my to-be-edited queue this week, so that should hit the Hands Occupied YouTube Channel by the weekend, and I’ll blog about it here next week. Because Thanksgiving.

To tide you over, here are a couple more TikTok videos from my growing library of mini-tutorials. ❤️

@handsoccupied

How to Ball Yarn 🧶 ##tiktokpartner ##learnontiktok ##crafttok ##yarn ##craftingeek

♬ Argentina Jolie – The Samois Film Orchestra
@handsoccupied

Because crafts shouldn’t be IYKYK. There are no dumb questions. 🧶 ##tiktokpartner ##learnontiktok ##crafttok ##yarn ##knitting

♬ Immortal Beloved (Instrumental) – BLVKSHP

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: craft basics, crochet, instagram reels, Knitting, latch hook, macrame, tiktok, yarn crafts

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi, an author, yarn craft designer and content creator specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. My work unapologetically features primary colors and vintage-meets-modern style. My first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is now available!

Professionally I’m most known for: advanced intarsia knitting design & modern latch hook design.

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handsoccupied

Craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. / #latchhookbook out now!
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knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
A new YouTube tutorial is live today covering how A new YouTube tutorial is live today covering how to knit the Little Butterfly Stitch (aka Bowknot Stitch). It adds so much cute character to simple stockinette. Only a little funky to knit, and it packs a huge visual punch! 🦋 
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Find the video & written stitch pattern on the blog and YouTube, links are in bio. 
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#kpambassadorsfeb21 #sponsored
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Yarn: @kelbournewoolens Germantown in Baby Blue via @knit_picks. Needles: Prism Interchangeables, also from Knit Picks. 
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Pictured: a light blue swatch of Little Butterfly Stitch knitting on a pink background. A skein of yarn and a few stitches of knitting are nearby.
“You’re telling me words can be pronounced in “You’re telling me words can be pronounced in different ways and mean the same things?!” 👀 Posting this here, just to make it clear: when anyone says skayne, skeen, or skyne, it can be safely assumed we’re talking about a bundle o’ yarn,  a SKEIN. It’s not necessary to shame someone for using a word that is known to have MULTIPLE common pronunciations. 🧶
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Can you plz comment sharing how you say SKEIN and where you learned it? The OED happens to say SKAYNE, but it’s not a personal attack if someone says SKEEN and you say SKYNE or even Saskatoon. I’m legitimately curious. We don’t all knit or crochet the same way, and craft evolves a bit like language - it is passed on. There is so much value in having conversations about & embracing these variations! ✌🏻
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Pictured: A blond woman holds a skein of mustard yellow yarn up to her head like a phone, looking shocked. She’s wearing glasses & a knit sweater. 
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#handsoccupied #heidigustad #skein #yarn #yarncraft #knit #crochet #yarnaddict #knitincolor #soldotnacrop #language #englishisweird #oed #oxfordenglishdictionary
Sometimes my weekend projects involve hair rather Sometimes my weekend projects involve hair rather than yarn. Here’s the latest mediocre-but-improving result of my slow quest to learn to set vintage inspired curls. 💇🏼‍♀️ I’m hoping to be able to wash my hair less using a regular vintage set, but we’ll see if it ends up being practical. 😆 Hair frustrates me so much more than crafts! 
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Do you also style your hair using vintage methods? If you have any tips for vintage hair styling or good resources to share, please do!
I suppose this is one way to decide what yarn colo I suppose this is one way to decide what yarn color suits your pooch. 😆 Navy really might be Woodrow‘s color - what do you think? 
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Pictured: A medium sized, brown, senior dog asleep on a green bed. For some reason a donut ball of navy wool yarn sits on his head.
The first stitch tutorial of the new year is live The first stitch tutorial of the new year is live on YouTube! Diamond Brocade is a great knit+purl only stitch for beginners or anyone wanting a classic look for their knitting project. Find the video with a written stitch pattern on the blog or head directly to the video on YouTube. Both are linked in bio. ✌🏻 
#kpambassadorsfeb21 #sponsored
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