Crocheted or Knitted Cotton Floor Dusters

Cotton yarn is wonderful to work with and can be used for so many different things. If you've been following Hooked On Needles for a while, you might remember that I made quite a few cotton dishcloths and washcloths. Some of you have even received them in packages from me or made them yourselves.

After making so many of the cotton cloths, I have accumulated quite a collection of leftover cotton yarn. This is what it looks like at the moment...


What a mess of yummy cotton! But have no fear! I have a way to use it all up in practically no time at all!

If you have wood floors in your home, chances are you have one of those name brand floor dusters which require the matching name brand disposable cloths that you use once and then throw away. Then you have to remember to buy more when you run out.

Here's an inexpensive and reusable solution that works just as well...

These cotton floor duster covers were made using the free pattern from Michael's website with some minor adjustments. The top one is crocheted and the bottom one is knitted. They both fit my name brand floor duster and they do a great job picking up dirt and dust (and lots of other things too!) from my wood floors. And since these also have cotton wrapped around the edges, they do a much better job on edges and in corners than the name brand disposables do.


The crocheted duster is made using single crochet in the back loops only, giving the duster these great little ridges for trapping dust and dirt.


The knitted version is made with small sections of garter stitch alternating on the front and back to produce these bumpy strips which also trap the dust and dirt very well.


The pattern from Michael's calls for stitching both the knitted and crocheted versions of these dusters in three pieces - one large piece measuring about 10 inches by 4 inches, and then two smaller pieces measuring about 2 inches by 4 inches. I decided to save myself some time and stitch both of my samples in one long piece, combining the numbers for the 3 pieces to get my cast on or chain stitch beginning numbers.


Then I just folded over the two ends and stitched the edges together to make my super easy, fabulously functional, and very frugal crocheted or knitted reusable cotton floor duster cover!


Much more colorful than the name brand disposables, don't you think?


It looks nice and clean right now, but after I use it on my floors, it will be ready for a spin through the wash. Just throw it in the wash along with towels or socks or whatever else you want, then hang it over a hook or shower curtain rod or clothes line to dry, and it will be ready to work for you again!

These handy dusters work up so quickly that I am making up as many as I can for my son's upcoming school Holiday Fair. Two other moms have also joined in on the fun and picked up their knitting needles after many years to make some for the fair too. With everyone trying to pinch pennies these days, I am hoping they will be good sellers at the fair and help to bring in a little bit of money for the school.

Happy Stitching!

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