Swiffer Wet Jet Mop Cover

Swiffer Wet Jet Mop Cover

Who has one of these? Mine certainly doesn't look like this anymore.  The handle is broken, I don't use that bottle of spray because the battery part broke open (perhaps the time for a new one?)

So I love my swiffer, but I have not bought those mop covers in an incredible amount of time.  One day I decided what a waste of money!  So I just did a simple double crochet rectangle the same size as the bottom of my swiffer.  Since there's velcro on it, it stayed on pretty good and cleaned just as well as those disposable ones.  But then, last week, it disappeared.  My son was mopping and he put it away and he says the cover went in the laundry but it never came out.  Must be hiding out with numerous socks.  Regardless, it was time to make a new one.  My boys always complained that the cover would fall off, I never had this problem, but I'm not swinging around the mop, keeping it on the floor tends to help keep it attached ;).  So I decided to make another one, but this time I was going to make it so it would hold on.

I found all kinds of ideas.  I found a lot that involved lots of different types of stitches, some with bobbles and fringe, most of which included just extended the rectangle and then folding up the edges and sewing those to make pockets that held the swiffer on.  That was super great, except, when I made mine, I made my pockets WAY too deep and it was so difficult to get on, not something I envisioned my kids being able to do.  It also covered up those little sprayer holes.  Now remember, I don't currently use the sprayer holes, but when I do get a new one, I would like to, since I found a way to fill the bottle so I'm using whatever cleaner is cheapest and not the expensive swiffer brand.

Then I found this picture on google of a brilliant idea from Inner Child Crochet and it had straps! How smart?! What great inspiration.  Now her pattern is free, and it's a great one, but I wanted something a little simpler.  She uses front and back post stitches, which aren't hard, but more time consuming for me and I really found my basic double crochet stitch to do a great job and didn't want to complicate matters.  There was also one small part I couldn't quite follow toward the end, because on her pattern, all last 5 rows are done in round, so on one side there would be no space for the spray.  Perhaps I am misreading or something but anyway, I tweaked it just a tad, and came up with this.  I did mine is super bright orange to hopefully prevent future losing of said mop cover.

PDF Version of Pattern HERE

Pattern

Rnd 1: Ch 32. Slip stitch in 1^st ch to join. Ch 2, hdc in each. Join. (32 hdc).

{ You will be beginning and ending this pattern in a round.}

Rnd 2: Ch 2; hdc in each. Join. (32 hdc).

Rnd 3: Ch 2; {alternate hdc & dc across} 8 times. Turn work. (16 st).

Rnd 4: Ch 2; {alternate hdc & dc across} 8 times. Ch 16; sl st in 1^st stitch to join round. (32 st.)

Rnd 5: Ch 2; {alternate hdc & dc across} 8 times. Hdc in next and each across. St st to join round (32 st.)

Rnd 6-15: Ch 2; {alternate hdc & dc across} 8 times. Turn. (16 st.)

(This is what it will look like a little less than halfway.)

Rnd 16: Ch 2; {alternate hdc & dc across} 8 times. Ch 16; sl st in 1^st stitch to join round. (32 st.)

Rnd 17: Ch 2; {alternate hdc & dc across} 8 times. Turn. (16 st.)

Rnd 18: Ch 2; {alternate hdc & dc across} 8 times. Ch 16; sl st in 1^st stitch to join round. (32 st.)

Rnd 19: Ch 2; hdc in next and each across. Join. (32 hdc.)

Rnd 20: Ch 2; hdc in next and each across. Join. (32 hdc.) Finish off.

Sew round 1 and round 20 to form pockets for sides of mop.

Weave in ends.

HAPPY CROCHETING!

♥ KP ♥

New Pumpkin Beanie

For the fall season... PUMPKIN BEANIE :

Available in all sizes and your choice of colors.

Happy Crocheting :)

♥ KP ♥

Animals

Animals

Lily the Ladybug

Petunia the Pig

Ellie the Elephant

Bruce the Bear

Our Heros

OUR HEROES

Travis the Trooper

Mark the Marine

Crochet Hair Accessories

Hair Accessories

Green Child's Size Headband with 3-layer Flower in Bright Blue, White & Yellow

Brown Baby's Size Headband with 4-Layer Flower in Pastel Pink

Hot Pink Child's Size Headband with White Bow

White Baby Size Headband with 3-Layer Flower in Hot Pink and White

Bear Ears Beanie

Just finished a beanie for a sweet little angel who recently was diagnosed with leukemia. She wanted a "girly purple bear ears hat." (This is a picture of my daughter modeling it, not the girl I made it for.) Hope she enjoys it.

Just make a simple beanie and 2 circles, fold in half and sew on the top. Easiest design ever :)

Crochet Tutorial - How to Crochet Around Both Sides of the Chain

Crochet Tutorial

How to Crochet Around Both Sides of the Chain

When you want to create more of an oval/oblong look than a circle you will need to crochet on both sides of the chain.

In order to do this you start with a basic chain. For this tutorial I used a chain of 11.

You then sc in the 2nd chain from the hook.

You follow the instructions, in this case, sc around with increase or 2sc in each end stitch.

In order to do this, sc in the 2nd chain from the hook, 8sc, 2sc in next (this is the end stitch), (11sc at this point), then you continue on the opposite side of the chain, another 8sc, and 1sc in the last (this is the original 2nd chain from the hook so there will be a total of 2sc in it). This brings your final round count to 20.

Your round includes both sides, all 20sc and you place your stitch marker at the end of the 20th sc and before your next.

You have now crocheted around both sides of the chain.

Hope this helps!

Any questions, feel free to ask:

mycrochetivity@yahoo.com

Check out my etsy shop!

HAPPY CROCHETING!

♥ KP ♥

Crochet Tutorial - How to Make Hair

Crochet Tutorial

How to Make Hair

When making amigurumi there are many times when you need to make "hair" for your doll or creature. You can individually tie knots with each piece of hair, but I don't care for the large knots this creates. I prefer this "hair method."

You would traditionally make hair on the head, usually a ball, however for this tutorial I am just using a circle for an example.

First you insert your hook under the stitch you want to attach the hair.

Cut the pieces of hair in the desired length and fold in half, hook the yarn at the midpoint.

And pull through, just a loop, not all the way.

Once you have the loop, pull the remaining tails, through the inside of the loop.

Continue this as few or as many strands as you want for the desired look.

Hope this helps!

Any questions, feel free to ask:

mycrochetivity@yahoo.com

Check out my etsy shop!

HAPPY CROCHETING!

♥ KP ♥

Crochet Tutorial - How to Change Colors

Crochet Tutorial

How to Change Colors During a Project

There are many times when you need to change colors during a project. In order to do so, the first step actually begins during your first color. You begin your stitch, and work it until the very last step. DO NOT COMPLETE the last step in your first color.

For example, if you were doing a sc, the stitch is as follows:

insert in st, yarn over, pull up a loop, (2 loops on hook) yarn over, pull through.

BUT if you are changing colors you will not complete the last step.

Instead you would:

insert in st, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook)....

STOP HERE

This is where you begin your new color.

You would yarn over and pull through with your new color.

This can be done with any stitch, just complete the last step with the new color.

For example, if you were doing a hdc the stitch is as follows:

yarn over, insert in st, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through.

BUT if you are changing colors you will not complete the last step.

Instead you would:

yarn over, insert in st, yarn over, bring up a loop (3 loops on hook).....

STOP HERE

This is where you begin your new color.

You would yarn over and pull through with the new color.

You now have your new color on your hook.

When changing colors make sure you leave a tail with both the old and new colors and secure them by crocheting OVER them or your work could come undone. I do approx 4-5 stitches over the tails and then cut off the remainder. Then continue crocheting in your new color. This may be repeated as many times as necessary.

Now you can make multi colored projects! Stripes are great

Hope this helps!

Any questions, feel free to ask:

mycrochetivity@yahoo.com

Check out my etsy shop!

HAPPY CROCHETING!

♥ KP ♥

Crochet Tutorial - How to Make an Adjustable Ring

Crochet Tutorial

How to Make an Adjustable Ring

This is a basic tutorial for beginners who do not know how to make an adjustable ring. An adjustable ring is used when crocheting in round instead of the traditional chain 2, sc in the first chain. When using an adjustable ring you avoid the open hole found using the chain method. The adjustable ring is beneficial when making toys and hats or anytime you do not want a hole in your project.

Ring made by chain 2, sc in first chain.

Ring made using adjustable ring.

To demonstrate this tutorial I am using a very large hook (K). This is so that the stitches are large enough for you to see them. Using a hook this large will create a rather "gappy" round, I usually use a G hook or smaller.

To begin, create a loop with your yarn leaving the tail on top of the yarn still attached to the skein.

Holding tightly where both strands meet (at the x), then insert hook in loop, yarn over and pull up a loop.

Yarn over and pull up through loop. (Made a ch).

Make sure you are holding both the loop and tail together. (I reposition my hands here). Insert hook into loop, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook.) Yarn over and pull through both loops.

Please note this stitch holds your loop together and DOES NOT count as your first sc.

Now you begin your sc into your loop, as many as stated. Be sure to sc over both the tail and the loop so that when you pull the tail the loop will close tight leaving no hole.

I have done 6sc into adjustable ring, this is what it looks like before pulling tight.

6sc into adjustable ring once pulled tight.

There appears to be a wedge in between the last and first sc, however, once you continue in round you will have a perfect circle with no hole.

This is not an easy method at first. It was hard for me to get my hand placement right, I kept losing the loop! But practice, practice, practice! You will get it! And it looks SO much better than a gaping hole.

Hope this helps!

Any questions, feel free to ask:

mycrochetivity@yahoo.com

Check out my etsy shop!

HAPPY CROCHETING!

♥ KP ♥