Knit or Crochet a Swiffer Cover

Since I have mostly run out of things to blog about, I have to improve on things I have already done.  In 2013 I blogged about making fabric Swiffer covers.  http://www.thecabincountess.com/2013/01/swiffer-sheets-from-fleece-fabric.html  The fleece fabric covers work out fine and I still use them, but lately I have been seeing Pinterest posts for some knit and crochet covers.  Since there isn't  a pattern I liked for making them, I just experimented with some yarn I found.  I found some chenille yarn at Walmart.  It was 5.3 ounces of Lion Brand Vel-Luxe yarn for $4.98.  It is very soft and seems durable.  The fleece fabric covers are still in good shape after seven years.  Time will tell if these new ones hold up over time.

My first attempt was basically a long skinny rectangle the width of the Swiffer (about 4 inches) and 15 inches long (10 inches actual size plus 5 inches for folding over).  It looked like a slipper with two toes.  I set stitch markers in 10 stitches on each end to make it easier to seam later when I sewed it together.

With size 8 needle,  I cast on 50 stitches and knit the garter stitch (knitting every row) for 24 rows or 12 bumps on each side.  Fold in at the stitch markers on each side and sew the flaps to make pockets.  That's it, just slip it on the Swiffer head.  By the way, people give away these Swiffers all the time.  Almost every thrift store has them for little cost.  I suppose buying the disposable covers gets annoying and wasteful.  I purchased a micro fiber "dust mop" as my mother called them.  It was larger, awkward and pivoted in odd directions.  I like the small Swiffer so much better.

The next one I made was similar but it wrapped around the Swiffer head.

With a Size 8 needle, I cast on 30 stitches and knit the garter stitch for 60 rows (30 bumps).  It makes a rectangle about 8 by 9 1/2.  Smaller is better than too big.  This yarn stretches some.  Seam in about 2 inched on each side and close the ends.  This one looks like it would hold a small box of Kleenex. 

The last one I made was crocheted.  It was faster to make, and although it looks very similar to the second one, I liked it better.  With a size H crochet hook I chained 30 and joined to make a circle.  I crocheted in each stitch around until the beginning.  Then join in the first stitch, chain 1 and make another round until the piece is a tube about two inches long.  At this point I stopped working in the round and turned my work.  Crochet back and forth on the 30 stitches until the piece is about 7 1/2 inches long.  Then crochet around again for two more inches for a total of 9 1/2 inches. 

To finish this piece the ends just need to be sewn shut.  This yarn is very forgiving and if you miscount or don't line it up perfectly, it won't show.  It's just a Swiffer cover after all. 

This yarn picks up fine dust and doesn't just push it around.  It also washes beautifully.  After cleaning the floors, the cover is easily removed and tossed in the laundry.

I made 6 covers with one ball of yarn.  The cost is less than 85¢ each.  Now I have no excuse for dust bunnies under my bed.