13 Crocheted Floor Duster Covers Complete!

Last month I shared an idea for using up all your scrap cotton yarn by knitting or crocheting floor duster covers to take the place of the disposable name brand cloths. I've been a busy beaver since then and I'm ready to show you what I've made. So here we go...


Altogether 13 covers will be donated to the holiday fair at my son's school this weekend. How much would you pay for one of these?


I love the variety of colors all piled up in a heap...so cheerful! See that red and aqua cover? I made that one in honor of Jane's Red and Aqua D9P quilt block swap. Since getting into that swap, I've been noticing red and aqua everywhere I go!


And so very practical too! Imagine all the money you could save by using one of these and washing it instead of purchasing the brand name cloths and throwing them away!


Speaking of throwing things away, this picture shows the 31 ball bands recovered from all the leftover yarn I used up making these covers, and the little pile of yarn ends snipped off after all the ends were woven in.


And this is what's left in my bag of cotton yarn. Compared to what I started with, it's hardly worth mentioning!

I love finding projects that use up odd bits of yarn, fabric, batting or beads for a useful purpose. Do you have any favorite projects that use up leftovers? I'd love to hear about them.

Happy Stitching!

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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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Crocheted Pin Cushion - Fast and Easy!

Terri over at Purple and Paisley seems to find all sorts of fun little things out there, and this little Crocheted Pin Cushion is one of her most recent finds. She discovered it on Liselotte's website which is completely in Danish.

Here's my version of it...


For the top, I used several leftover scraps of cotton from the washcloths I've made recently...


...and for the bottom, some hot pink that I had almost a whole ball of. This didn't take nearly a whole ball though, so you could easily make one with just scraps of a few colors.


Then I used more of the hot pink to wrap from the center around the outside to make the 'petals' of the flower. The buttons I used for the top and bottom middle were on their way to the trash on an old beach cover-up that had seen better days. I saw them sitting there in the trash and thought what a shame to waste such colorful buttons just because the item they were on was no longer usable. So I just ripped them off the fabric and saved them from an untimely demise! No sense throwing away good buttons!

Coming up soon, I'll be showing another useful tip for knitting lace, a video tutorial on a fun crochet pattern, and a look back at Tunisian Crochet with a few more variations to add to your repertoire.

Happy Stitching!

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Adding Colorful Bits to a Crocheted Piece - Video Tutorial

Sometimes it's nice to use a plain, simple, solid color to crochet or knit a piece. Usually, however, I try to avoid a single solid color for an afghan or bag or sweater or whatever else I might be making. I find it just gets too uninteresting, especially if it's a larger piece like this all-red afghan I crocheted in basketweave stitch for a friend.

When I was looking for a cone of worsted weight cotton yarn for my current project, all I could find was a solid off white, or a variegated which didn't quite fit the theme I was going for. So I bought the off white and thought of ways to dress it up a little.

This is what I came up with...


You've seen all the cotton cloths I have crocheted over the past many months. I had a little bit left from each one, so here are bits and pieces of the leftovers crocheted into my current project.


You may recognize the fabric of this piece as the Forked Cluster stitch that I demonstrated just recently in a video tutorial. I just love the V design it makes. The cotton used for all the cloths was so varied in color with most being variegated that it was easy to get a wide range of different colors and combinations to add to this piece.

Here's a little video showing how I worked these random pieces of yarn into my work...




Stay tuned for an upcoming post when I will reveal what this project is and what you can do for a chance to have it for your own!

Happy Stitching!

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Correction on Magic Number for Tunisian Short Row Dishcloth

Back in March, I experimented with the original pattern for the Tunisian Short Row Dishcloth. I was looking for the largest number to use for the beginning chain so as to use up as much of a 2 ounce ball of cotton as possible without running out of yarn.

I thought 17 was it since there seemed to be so little left after my experiment that I was sure adding another stitch, which would mean 6 more long rows on the dishcloth, would surely cause me to run out of yarn. I was also quite satisfied with the size of the larger cloth compared to the original size cloth I had made at first.

But I decided to give it one more try, using this Sugar 'n Cream cotton called Baby Stripes. I love using the self-striping yarn on these cloths. The color patterns are always fun and different for each one.


Don't you just love how the color sections make the design on the cloth so much more interesting?


So here it is, the latest version of the Tunisian Short Row Dishcloth, made with a beginning chain of 18. This cloth is a full 11 inches across at its widest point which is a very generous size for a wash cloth.


I had enough yarn to work the first round of single crochet on the border, and then one round of reverse single crochet to finish off the edge nicely. When that was complete, there were only about 2 yards of yarn leftover. I'd say that is about as close as it gets for using up but not running out of a 2 ounce ball of yarn!

So now I stand corrected. 18 is the new magic number for me, using a size K hook and a 2 ounce ball of cotton. You may get different results because of your tension, hook size and choice of yarn. The solid colors are usually 1/2 ounce larger than the variegated or self-striping, and other brands may be different as well.

I think this one will be sent off to my niece who is expecting her first baby very shortly. Wouldn't this be lovely as part of a gift basket with all kinds of bath things for a new baby? Think about giving it a try for the next little bundle of joy coming into your life.

Happy Stitching!

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A Crocheted Bag for my Favorite Little Bag Lady

Ever since I crocheted that pink bag with beads for Jane, my very favorite little bag lady (4 yr old daughter Gracie) has been after me to make her a bag too. And since I am between Serious Projects at the moment and just looking for quick summer-like things to work on, now was a great time to fulfill my promise to make Gracie her own bag.

So I let her look through my pattern book to pick her pattern and then off we went to Michael's where she picked out a very bright, very cheerful, but not nearly as PINK as I expected, Sugar 'n Cream cotton called Playtime.


And two days later, here it is hanging off one of the dining room chairs to give you a little idea of how big it is. I even made the strap shorter than the pattern called for! I really didn't want the bag dragging on the ground when it was draped over her shoulder!


This bag, unlike the pink one I made for Jane, is flat. You can see here at the bottom of this picture where the beginning chain was slip stitched together after all the crocheting was complete. The bag is actually crocheted in the round with the bottom open, and then the bottom seam is closed at the end.


The pattern stitch is a very simple one...just two double crochet, skip a stitch, and continue around. After every 5 rows of this double crochet pattern, there was a row of single crochet which is what gives the bag the appearance of having horizontal sections. The pictures in my pattern booklet show this same bag crocheted in a red, white and blue color scheme having the large sections in either blue or white, and each single crochet row in red. It is really quite striking. It is also nice worked in one solid color.


I ran out of the Playtime yarn right at the end when all I had left to do was close the bottom of the bag and crochet the trim around the top of the bag and the handles. For projects like this, and others as well, you really cannot go by the ounces of yarn called for. Yardage should be used to determine how many balls of yarn will be needed. I learned that lesson on this project. So back to Michael's we went and picked out this Hot Pink for the trim and I think it actually works better than if I had used the Playtime variegated.


I like the look of the double crochet pairs and the one row of single crochet thrown in there. This pattern would make a nice blanket, wrap or scarf as well.


This is the booklet of bag patterns in which I found both this bag and Jane's pink bag. On the cover, notice the yellow bag. That is the one I made for Gracie. The big black one with the gold beads around it is the same pattern as the one I made for Jane. The booklet is from American School of Needlework and it is number 1251. I don't believe it is in print anymore but I did find it available used through Amazon.

Trendsetting Totes: 8 Crochet Designs in Cotton Yarn (1251) (American School of Needlework #1251)

There are 8 designs altogether in this booklet, but the inside pages and back cover show each one in many different color schemes. I have made almost all of the patterns in this booklet at one time or another and they are all well written patterns and fun little projects to make.

Happy Stitching!

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More Crocheted Red, White and Blue

In honor of our country's birthday, and because I can't seem to get enough of crocheting these cotton dishcloths, here is my patriotic version of the Tunisian Short Row Dishcloth.

I'll call it Cleaning Up in Red, White and Blue...


This self striping yarn is so unpredictable when used for these Tunisian Short Row dishcloths, and I would guess when used in any other kind of project too. That's the fun of using them!

This dishcloth was crocheted with a starting chain of 17, which I have found makes just about the perfect size cloth. Those made with only 15 to begin seemed just a bit too small for my liking, and I'm not quite sure one ball of cotton would be enough to finish one starting with 18, although I have not yet tried that. Perhaps I should next time I'm looking for a quick little project.


This cotton yarn is a Sugar 'n Cream self striping 2 ounce ball in a color appropriately called American Stripes. I really like the way the blue and red are not completely solid, but show a little bit of the white. I think that gives the crocheted fabric more of a casual denim type look to it.

Speaking of denim, I still have piles of old jeans to recycle and that is going to be my project this summer, if we ever get that too-hot-and-humid-to-do-anything-productive kind of weather that New England is famous for. So far we've been lucky with cool weather, especially considering I had to get that Sweet Liberty afghan finished on time! But I know the uncomfortable weather will be here at some point, and I am always so grateful that my sewing room is in the cool basement and I can enjoy lots of productive sewing time down there while staying cool and not so cranky at the same time. What good planning that was!

So I'll work on more aprons and clothes pin bags and anything else I might dream up to make use of all that cozy, broken-in, sturdy, useful denim that was destined for the trash.

What are your plans for handwork in the hot weather?

Happy Stitching!

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Pink Crocheted Bag - PIF Gift #3

I just received word that my Pay-It-Forward Gift #3 arrived safely at its destination, so now I can show you what I made for Jane.




Anyone who knows Jane, knows that PINK is THE color for her! I have never met Jane personally, and in fact I've never even seen a picture of her, but just from our light correspondence and exchange of comments on each other's websites, I get the feeling that she is a very fun and vibrant person. So I just had to make something equally as fun for her.

This crocheted bag is made with the same crochet cotton used for the dishcloths I was making there for A Really Long Time, with a little added twist...rows of beads thrown in for fun! The bag stands about 15 inches tall, not including the handle which is long enough to throw the bag over your shoulder, or to tie it into a knot to shorten it.

I lined the bag with a soft pink striped lightweight fabric in case Jane wanted to use it to carry projects with her, so needles and small things wouldn't fall through the holes. In a future post, I will share a little tutorial on how to incorporate beads into your crocheting. I'll also show how easy it is to line a bag like this.

Pop over to Jane's website to see the other PINK goodies she received in her package.

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted and Knitted Cotton Dishcloth Collection

I've been busy cutting up more jeans and other things and have completed another apron that I was going to show you in a rather long tutorial type post, but I'll be lucky if I can get this published before we lose power since we are in the middle of a whopper of a thunder and lightening storm. So I am opting for a quick peek at my collection of cotton dishcloths.

I am taking a trip later this week with my oldest daughter to Kansas to celebrate my mother's 75th birthday, and I wanted to have something to give to all my siblings and nieces and sister-in-law and other nice people I'll run into while I'm traveling. I thought of bringing homemade jellies, but they don't travel well, especially in light of all the airline restrictions for baggage these days. Since I was so caught up in making these anyway, I thought what better way to thank everyone for their hospitality or just offer a little gift than to give them a handmade cotton cloth for their kitchen or bathroom.

So this is the collection I'll be bringing with me to share:


There are 21 in the picture altogether, and I have another still on the hook which I should finish tonight, and I may whip up another one or two before we leave. I think that will be enough to go around. I hope so anyway!

I also made my mother a little something for her birthday gift which I will show you after she sees it in person. I don't want to spoil the surprise for her. I know how much she LOVES surprises!

The storm is getting closer, so I will be signing off now. I will have that other apron up for show and tell in the next day or two so be on the lookout for that.

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms and Mom-like women out there, especially my own. Take a look at this Mother's Day post on a blog that I read regularly and find inspiring. I thought it was so sweet and I think you'll enjoy it too.

Happy Stitching!

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Giveaway Prize Ready to Go!

Another giveaway prize package is on its way! This one is heading all the way to Queensland, Australia to Kerry who won my 300th post giveaway a few weeks ago. Here's what she will be receiving...



The prize was actually a choice between a set of 4 dish/wash cloths, or 2 cloths and 2 woven hotpads. Kerry chose the mix and since her requested color was not available, she said that green would also be a good color. I decided to go with the Tunisian Short Row pattern that I have been using a lot lately since it shows off variegated and self striping yarns so nicely. And the woven hotpad is just a fun pattern to make anyway. You can read how I came about that pattern HERE. Thanks again to P&P for pointing me to it!

The yarn I used is Sugar'n Cream Lime Stripes. It almost looks like the color changes on one of the cloths happen exactly at the beginning of each wedge of the cloth. That is purely coincidental and was a fun effect to discover the first time I used the self striping yarn on this pattern. I have since made several more with other self striping yarns and the same thing seems to happen more often than not. Very interesting!

Happy Stitching!

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Tunisian Short Row Flower

My first cone of cotton yarn is finally exhausted! When I started seeing the cone through the yarn, I knew I would not have enough left to make a whole dishcloth, but I had to make something. I couldn't just leave those last layers of yarn untouched! Would you like to see what I made with the last little bit of yarn?


It turned out to be a flower of all things! When I started this little project, I fully intended it to be a little drawstring bag similar to my Itty Bitty Anything Bag, only with a Tunisian Short Row bottom on it. Sometimes I have found that a project will become what it wants though, and not necessarily what I had in mind!

Using a size I regular crochet hook and the exact same method as the Tunisian Short Row Dishcloth, except with a beginning chain of only 7 stitches, I began what was supposed to be the bottom of the drawstring bag. After I finished the 6 wedges, I joined the beginning row with the ending row and was not entirely pleased with how the joining looked, so I pulled out the joining row and decided to just keep adding wedges until I ran out of yarn. I had no idea it would turn out to be something interesting and maybe even useful! What a great surprise!


When I had only a few yards of yarn left, I stopped making wedges and worked a simple little decorative border on the outside edge like this...(ch 3, sk 1, sl st in next stitch) all the way back to the beginning of the spiral.

Then I arranged the layers in a pleasing manner and stitched a few times right through the middle catching all the layers, using the tail of the yarn and a darning needle. This serves to hold the layers in place and keeps then from unwinding.


This is what the underside of the flower looks like...just a very small version of the underside of the Tunisian Short Row Dishcloth!

This was a fun little project to do and it could be used for lots of fun things. Since it is all cotton and so soft, you could use it in the shower with your favorite liquid soap in place of your little netty scrubbie thingy. Or you could attach a pin to the back and pin it to your favorite crocheted bag or hat. Can you think of other things to do with a cheerful crocheted flower?

Happy Stitching!

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Sunny Plaid Crocheted Dishcloth - Super Easy!

If you're like me, sometimes you just don't feel like following a pattern or paying attention to stitch counts or designs. You just want to crochet! That was exactly my mindset the other day when I made this Sunny Plaid Dishcloth. Of course I had no idea it would turn out to be plaid, since variegated yarns tend to create their own designs as you stitch. I was quite pleased with the way this one turned out though.


I'm still working on the cone of Peaches 'n Cream cotton I purchased recently. I keep making things and it just doesn't seem to want to run out! It was time to put down my long afghan hook that I use for the Tunisian Short Row cloths and just use my regular little size G crochet hook for a quick project. The cloth you see above is the result.


Just look at all that scrubby texture!

To crochet this cloth, I started with a chain of 41. Working in the back loops only, I worked about 46 rows of single crochet. Actually I crocheted until the piece appeared to be square, which happened to be about 46 rows, but you could make yours any size you want by adjusting the starting chain and the number of rows. When I was finished with the rows, I worked one round of single crochet around the cloth and that was it! No counting, no patterns or charts to follow, and the result is a very generously sized (about 11 inches square) and wonderfully textured plaid dishcloth!


I just love how these ridges form in the crocheted fabric by working only in the back loops of the stitches. This is the same technique used in the Mitered Squares Baby Blanket that I made last summer. It's what my grandmother and my Auntie always used when making their famous ripple or zig-zag afghans too!

If you need a refresher on how to work in the back loop only, you can view my single crochet video tutorial and patiently sit through about the first 4 minutes. Then you'll see a quick demonstration of working in the front loop and working in the back loop of a stitch for crocheting.

Happy Stitching!

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