Knitted Swiffer Mop Cover

Ok, one of the strangest patterns I've come across in the past couple of weeks was for a Swiffer mop cover. But the more I thought about it, the more I decided it was more practical than strange. Especially since we had hardwood floors put in last fall. I'm getting out my swiffer every couple of days, and have been using those disposable sheets. A washable, reusable Swiffer pad really IS a good idea!

I searched for patterns for these and decided to use Green Mountain Mama's Swiffer Cozy pattern. In part, I chose this one because it won an honorable mention in the Whiplash Competition Color theme. And I liked the way it attached to the Swiffer.

I picked up some Sugar & Cream yarn and had my Swiffer Cozy finished in just a couple of hours. It works great, especially for little tufts of cat hair my kitty leaves around.

Green Mountain Mama's Swiffer Cozy

The pattern is based on the dishcloth pattern that is on the back of Sugar & Cream yarn. It's known as the Textured Slip Stitch Dishcloth or in the Mason Dixon Knitting book as the Ballband Dishcloth. The free Sugar & Cream Pattern is printed below, with Green Mountain Mama's additional pattern instructions to turn this into a Swiffer cover.

MATERIALS:
Worsted weight machine washable wool or cotton yarn - two contrasting colors or you can use up leftovers or stash yarns.
US 7 Needles or size to give correct gauge
4 buttons

GAUGE:
18 sts and 32 rows = 4"

PATTERN:
With color A, loosley cast on 45 stitches

Row 1: Using A, knit across row

Row 2: Purl across row

Row 3: Join color B, k4, slip 1 purlwise, *k5, sl 1 purlwise; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4

Row 4: K4, yarn forward (yf), slip 1 purlwise, yarn back (yb),
*k5, yf, slip 1 purlwise, yb; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4

Row 5: p4, yb, slip 1 purlwise, yf, *p5, yb, slip 1 purlwise, yf, rep from * to last 4 sts, p4

Row 6: Repeat Row 4

Row 7: Using A, knit across row

Row 8: Purl across row

Row 9: Using B, k1, slip 1 purlwise, *k5, slip 1 purlwise; rep from * to last st, k1

Row 10: K1, yf, slip 1 purlwise, yb, *k5, yf, slip 1 purlwise, yb; rep from * to last st, k1

Row 11: P1, yb, slip 1 purlwise, yf, *p5, yb, slip 1 purlwise, yf; rep from * to last st, p1

Row 12: Repeat Row 10

Repeat these rows 3 times for Swiffer cover
(For dishcloth, repeat 5 times, then rep rows 1 through 8, then bind off looseley)

For Swiffer cover, you will now have 6 rows of bands, which is just enough to cover the base of your Swiffer.

Knit one row
Purl one row
Knit one row

Start Tabs:
Change color if you'd like, knit 15 stitches, bind off next 15 stitches, knit 15 stitches.
Work these 15 stitches in garter stitch (k each row) for 16 rows

Buttonhole row:
Knit 3 stitches, k2tog, yo, k5, k2tog, yo, knit 3 stitches.
Knit three rows and bind off these 15 stitches.

Tabs:
There should still be 15 sts on your needle for the other tab. Work 16 rows in garter stitch, repeat buttonhole row instructions, knit three rows and bind off.

For the other two tabs, pick up 15 stitches from right side, work 19 rows of garter stitch (k each row) and bind off.
Pick up 15 stitches form the left side, work 19 rows of garter stitch and bind off.

FINISHING:
Try it on your Swiffer and note where the buttons need to be sewn onto the tabs. Sew on the buttons and Swiffer away!