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Hands Occupied

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

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Weaving in the ends on our first RALCAL

May 1, 2018 4 Comments

Crochet the Worker Bee Bag & Worker Bee Clutch! This adorable bag uses filet crochet, baubles, and elongated stitches to create a fun, textural piece perfect for spring!
With over 150 posts in the Ravelry Group, 164 favorites for the Worker Bee Bag pattern on Ravelry, and almost 500 pattern downloads, the first Read Along Crochet Along was definitely a success! I’ll admit I was a little scared to split our fall and spring Read Alongs into knitting for the fall and crochet for the spring. What if the folks who are knit-exclusive felt excluded? What if the crocheters weren’t into the concept? What if people wanted to strangle me with my own yarn for including a challenging stitch? In the end, it all worked out, and we had a blast reading, crocheting, and sharing tips for success during the first crochet along on Hands Occupied.

A look at the first Read Along Crochet Along!

One of the best things about each fall and spring read along is looking back on the moments of friendship that happened while we all worked and read and learned together. Ok, maybe that sounds a little Pollyanna, but I mean it! Every week at the Read Along IRL* and every day in the Ravelry Group and on social media, there’s inevitably a fun moment. Sometimes it was someone sharing success in crocheting our Worker Bee Bag. (Ahem, the struggle was real for all of us with the bees. As usual, I swear I’m not a monster, but I fully understand if you cursed my name the first time you tried the Worker Bee Stitch.) Sometimes it was sharing a super adult moment in person after a couple glasses of wine or too much candy. I really, really just love getting to know you all during the Read Along every time! Read on for a look at some of my favorite shares from this RALCAL.

*By the way, I promise that we’ll incorporate a live stream with the fall Read Along IRL, so everyone can participate! I just have to figure out logistics and set myself a reminder to actually do it. ;) 

Supplies to crochet the Worker Bee Bag.

Janice was the first to gather & share her Worker Bee Bag supplies & copy of The Beekeeper’s Apprentice with the Ravelry Group.

Crochet the Worker Bee Bag & Worker Bee Clutch! This adorable bag uses filet crochet, baubles, and elongated stitches to create a fun, textural piece perfect for spring!

Mariah & Mannvitha’s Worker Bee Bag WIPs!

Crochet oval bag base from the Worker Bee Bag.

Mary’s beautifully-tensioned Worker Bee Bag base, shared in the Ravelry Group.

Crochet the Worker Bee Bag & Worker Bee Clutch! This adorable bag uses filet crochet, baubles, and elongated stitches to create a fun, textural piece perfect for spring!

Crocheters compare notes at Read Along IRL. 

Crochet the Worker Bee Bag & Worker Bee Clutch! This adorable bag uses filet crochet, baubles, and elongated stitches to create a fun, textural piece perfect for spring!

One of the most popular posts of the whole RALCAL was this beauty from @fireflyfiberarts. 

The crew at Read Along IRL, spring 2018, at Firefly Fiber Arts.

The Read Along IRL crew from week 3 of RALCAL.

A closer look at the Read Along Crochet Along prize pack on Hands Occupied, featuring a Darn Good Yarn yarn bowl, bag handles from Jul Designs, a Love & Leche lotion bar, and yarn from Why Knot Fibers.
PS: Don’t forget to tune in to Friday’s Picks of the Week post to find out if you won the prize pack!

Thank you so much to: Why Knot Fibers for providing yarn support for this design. Firefly Fiber Arts for again graciously hosting our Read Along IRL. Jul Designs, Love & Leche, Why Knot Fibers, and Darn Good Yarn for providing prizes for our wonderful giveaway.

Filed Under: Crochet, Knit Along Tagged With: cal, ralcal, read along crochet along, worker bee bag, worker bee stitch

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Bernadette

    May 1, 2018 at 10:37 am

    Thank you for such a beautiful & contemporary crochet design. I knew I had to make it the moment it appeared on Rav. And it lead me to the whole RALCAL experience which has been great. I look forward to seeing more crochet designs from you and what book you choose next.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      May 1, 2018 at 1:09 pm

      Thank you, Bernadette! I love how excited everyone was about this design. Now on to brainstorming the next one! <3

      Reply
  2. Cindy G

    May 1, 2018 at 6:24 pm

    This month totally got away from me! I’m about 2/3 of the way through the book, but haven’t picked up my hook all month. I just love how the finished bag looks, so I’m glad that I’ve had the chance to do a bit of lurking. I’m sure i’ll get my bag done by the end of the summer! Thanks for hosting a crochet version of your CAL! I’ll try to keep up better when the next one rolls around.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      May 3, 2018 at 12:37 pm

      Awesome! WIth all CALs, it’s totally understandable if something doesn’t quite get done. You’ll get there! :)

      Reply

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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

Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
🧶 Really into intarsia
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop the latest patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
This audio was me last summer while secretly desig This audio was me last summer while secretly designing the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern behind the scenes. 😆 I very often design with primary colors, so trying to explain suddenly working with black, white and grey was awkward/kinda funny. 🩶
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In case you missed it, this is my design from the new book ‘Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town,’ available now from @insighteditions & @tanisknits. We’re doing a knit along starting very soon, and we’ll be knitting this pattern! I’ve got weekly video tutorials planned for this educationally-focused knit along. This KAL is especially for you if you’re eager to work on your intarsia. 🧶
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Full KAL details, yarn quantities & pattern information are available on my bl0g, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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Yarn: @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted
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#nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook #handsoccupied #spiralhillsweatervest #knitting #halloweenknitting #knitalong #kal #knitting_inspiration #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #learntoknit
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
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Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
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Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
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#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
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