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Hands Occupied

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

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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 (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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