Crocheted Swiffer Duster Cover Tutorial

Finally, as I have promised for two months, I've finally put together a tutorial for these covers.

Materials & equipment:

4-ply acrylic yarn-about three or four ounces. Use the bargain bin cheap stuff-static is a good thing with these dusters. This is a great stash buster. You can use one color or have a different color for the loopy part and the base part.
Size H crochet hook (gauge isn't important)
Yarn needle

For base, chain 21.

Round 1. Do 3 sc in 2nd chain from hook. Sc across to last chain, 3 sc in last chain. Do not turn.


Rotate work and do 3 sc in the other side of the last chain. Sc down second side and 3 sc in the other side of the first chain you did the 3 sc in. Join to the first chain with a slip stitch.


Round 2. Chain 2 and start dc around, making dc ONLY in the back loop of the stitch, and making 3 dc's in the center sc in the 3 sc in the previous row. This forms the corner. Dc down side to next 3 sc, 3 dc in middle sc. Dc around to next corner, 3 dc in center sc of the 3 sc. Dc to fourth corner and make 3 dc in center sc. Dc across end to ch 2 and join with a slip stitch, making sure that both ends have an equal number of double crochets.


Round 3 & 4. Dc around in the same manner as Round 2, being sure to only catch the back loop of the previous round and that your ends have an equal number of stitches.

Get your Swiffer out and lay your base on it. Mine is the Pledge brand and I don't know if there's a size difference, but if there's a big difference in size, just do one more dc round. It should be somewhat smaller than the Swiffer.

Round 5 . Ch 1, sc around in back loop of previous round. This is forming the sides, so you don't have to turn the corners from here on. Join with sl st to ch 1.

Round 6. Ch 1, sc around in BOTH loops, join with a sl st to ch 1.

Round 7, 8, 9. Ch 1, sc 4, dec. in next two stitches. Repeat around-if your single crochet count is off, its okay, we're just making kind of a sleeve that stays on the Swiffer base. Cut yarn and pull through loop.

It kind of looks like a funky slipper.


Now here's the fun part. Make a slip knot and starting in the center, insert your hook into any of the loop we left when we single crocheted the first round. Attach it with a slip stitch. Chain 4, slip stitch in the next loop. Continue around, and slip stitch in the first loop.

Chain 4, move to the next round and slip stitch in a loop. It doesn't matter which one, just be sure to start in the center round and move out-much easier to keep track of. Where you joined your base rounds with a slip stitch won't have a clear loop, so just pick up any thread-this is for the floor after all, and you can't see it when you're done.

Continue all the way to the last row that has exposed loops. You should have 4 rounds of ch 4 loops.

Cut yarn, pull thread through. With yarn needle bury threads.

Ta daa! You could use this either wet or dry, so far I've only used mine dry and LOVE it!


Note: I have changed the pattern a bit. Check out row 6-there are no decreases. This will be much easier to put on and off the Swiffer.

If you have found my pattern here and have tried it, I would LOVE to have you leave a comment so I can see how it worked for you.

Reusable Swiffer Wet Mop Cover Tutorial

First let me say I HATE housework! Anything I can do to make it go quicker and easier makes me happy. Housework cuts into knitting , sewing and "coffeeing" time. Funny thing, though, the elves don't come while I'm doing the fun stuff so every now and then I have to knuckle down and actually DO something!

This mop cover was born of that need. I like the wet cloths that go on your swiffer, but they have to be changed so often, several times when you do a whole floor, and they dry out in the container. I also can't tolerate some of the cleaners they put in them. My favorite mop is a big old-fashioned string mop, but then we're talking about a bucket, soap and actual work.

So today here is my first tutorial. Have fun with it-sure would like some feedback:

Materials:
Approx 1/4 yard fabric-I used T-shirt material, but I think some kind of knit microfiber would be the best-recycle a shirt or something, if you like. 1/4 yard would give you at least two covers, so they're pretty cheap to make. Be sure it's something you can throw in the washer.
15" piece 1/4" elastic
paper for pattern
pins, safety pin, thread, scissors

Make a rectangle on paper 16" x 8 1/2." Cut out and round the corners.


Pin to fabric-lay out with grain running the length or crosswise, doesn't really matter. Cut out and pin with right sides together.


Stitch around, using about a 1/4" seam allowance. Leave about 1 1/2" from start so you can turn cover.


Turn-you can press it to make it lay nice and flat, but heck, this thing is going to scrub your floor so unless you're giving them as gifts, I wouldn't go too crazy.

Topstitch 3/8" from edge all around-this forms a casing for the elastic.


Using a safety pin, thread elastic through casing. Stitch ends of elastic together.


Pin and topstitch open area closed. You could hand stitch it to make it nice and pretty, but like I said....


Voila'!


Ewwww-it really works!


The only thing that I didn't like was that it didn't slide as smoothly as I wanted, that's why I think the microfiber with a bit of nap might work better. This was new fabric, so even though I pre-washed it, there might still be a bit of fabric finish to make it not very "slidey."