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Hands Occupied

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

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Warm Up with In-Person Events this Winter!

January 3, 2018 1 Comment

Warm Up with In-Person Events this Winter from Hands Occupied
It’s a new year, and there’s so much to celebrate! A lot of us have cold temps as a great excuse to spend time hunkered down with needles and hooks, but if you’re looking for a cozy place to warm up in January or February, I’ve got a few ideas. For Chicagoans, there are two knitting workshops, private lessons, and a brand new monthly knit and crochet meet up to entice you out of your hibernation nest. Read on to learn about all of the fun yarny things you can do with fellow Hands Occupied fans this winter!  

One quick thing before I give you the run-down on what’s coming up. If you’re not in Chicago, never fear! I promise I’m working on expanding my reach to other cities. To help me know where to plan visits and workshops, you can leave a comment on this post or drop me a line at heidi[at]handsoccupied[dot]com. I’d love to know where you’d like me to visit and teach! You can also sign up for or edit your current sign up status to start receiving email updates when workshops and events are added to the calendar. Here’s the signup page.

Learn six different ways to begin knitting projects in a Cast On Clinic with Heidi Gustad, the Knit & Crochet Designer behind Hands Occupied.

Cast on Clinic

Sunday, January 7, 2-4 pm at Firefly Fiber Arts in Chicago
Skill level: intermediate
Cost: $30
Prerequisites: Know how to work at least one knitting cast on.
Attendance: 3 person minimum, 12 person maximum.
Workshop includes: Materials to practice cast-on techniques
How many cast ons do you know? Most knitters master a few and then keep using them forever and ever, not thinking much of it. This class teaches you 6 different cast ons, and helps you understand when and (importantly) why you would want to use them in your knitting. Making a sweater that you want to fit over your head? Something stretchy might be a good idea. Working something super delicate? You might want to go a subtle route. The first week of a new year is a great time to try something new!

Sign up on the Firefly website. The $30 class fee covers group and one-on-one help, plus a handy reference for each cast on to take home.

Heidi Gustad excitedly talking to a knitter at Nina yarn shop in Chicago.
photo by Tennile Sunday 

NEW for 2018! Hands Occupied January Meet Up

Tuesday, January 23, 5-9 pm at The Walk In, 2727 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free, but bring money for drinks and tips!
I have been thinking to myself for YEARS that there should be a regular Hands Occupied meet up in Chicago, where I’m based. Well 2018 is finally the time, folks! Come hang out with fellow knitters & crocheters at The Walk In bar in Logan Square. It’s conveniently located within a block of the Logan Square Blue Line Station, and there’s a Milwaukee Avenue bus stop right outside the door.

No pressure to come right at 5, btw! The bar we’re meeting at has an amazing happy hour that runs until 8, so I’ll be there right at 5 pm for $5 beer drafts and cocktails. ;) Pro tip: They don’t have much in the way of food at this bar, so you might want to toss a granola bar in your bag along with your WIP if you’re coming straight from work.

RSVP & invite your friends on Facebook!

Mark your calendars! The February meet up will be Wednesday, 2/21 with location TBD.

Learn how to knit brioche from Heidi Gustad, the Knit and Crochet Designer behind Hands Occupied.

Build Up Your Brioche

Sunday, February 18, 1-4 pm at Firefly Fiber Arts in Chicago
Skill level: intermediate
Cost: $70
Prerequisites:
An understanding of how to knit brioche rib flat in one color. If you want to practice working 2 color brioche rib flat in the weeks leading up to this workshop, you won’t be sorry. 
Attendance: 3 person minimum, 8 person maximum.
Workshop includes: 3 hours of instruction & a Funkasonic Mittens Kit.
Supplies: You may bring your own size US 3 & US 4 circular or DPN knitting needles, or you can purchase them at the shop.

Take your brioche beyond the basics with this workshop! We will tackle knitting brioche in the round, changing colors in brioche rib, and how to fix mistakes in brioche knitting. Class size is capped at 8 students maximum to allow for tons of one on one help from yours truly!

Sign up on the Firefly website. The class fee covers group and one-on-one help, plus a useful guide to walk you through next-level brioche knitting.

Learn all about Mountain Meadow Wool's Alpine yarn and enter to win a skein to try for yourself!

Don’t forget! Private lessons are available.

Cost: $30/hr.
Skill level: any
Get individualized instruction on any knitting or crochet technique, or get help if you’ve knit yourself into a corner or crocheted your project into knots. I’ve done private lessons in coffee shops, bars, yarn shops and even hospital rooms. Let’s talk about what works for you!

Sign up via the online shop for knitting or crochet, or shoot me an email at heidi[at]handsoccupied[dot]com to start a conversation. 

Filed Under: Workshops & Events Tagged With: brioche workshop, cast on, chicago, hands occupied, hands occupied meet up, heidi gustad, knitting workshop

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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Comments

  1. Daniel

    January 17, 2018 at 1:41 pm

    Hello my name is Daniel and I just started to knit a few weeks ago and love it! I live two blocks from the Walk-In and would love to join! I don’t have a Facebook account, can I still RSVP? Including my email with this post ,

    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

Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
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
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
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I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
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#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies, so getting a few hung in my new studio has been a priority. Here’s my first attempt. 🔨 
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Details: This pegboard panel is for organizing my knitting needles, latch hook tools, sewing thread, etc. It doesn’t need to hold much weight, so I didn’t anchor this into a stud - just used basic drywall anchors. I’ve also got a set of two 2’x4’ panels for another spot in my studio, and those will need a stud/more than 3 drywall anchors. Wish me luck! 
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[description: video features a woman hanging a panel of pegboard using a square dowel and drill]
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