A New Perch, on a New Porch?

This is my "New House"

it is a dream house to me.

For over a year, I have been working on selling my current home, so I could get into a smaller home, something I can take care of, keep up with, and still have time for my crochet design business, and my grandchildren.

A few weeks ago, I got a wild hair, and set some feelers out with investors in the area.

My proposal, A deed for deed SWAP.

I viewed a few vacant houses, and a few investors walked through my house. It was an interesting week. I kept coming back to this little house, and how much it rang true to my goals, and vision.

I have spent the last couple weeks, working on it, Painting Rooms, demo in the bathroom, to put in a Washer and Dryer hook up,

Demo in the kitchen, to install cabinets and counter tops, new flooring, and all the incidentals that come with the territory. So many items that have been stored in my basement the last few years will also have a fresh lease on life. It is really exciting.

While the house is still a few weeks from livable, it is coming right along. Today, I met with the Owner, to discuss the work still needed, and some of the details of closing.

It was this conversation that took the wind from my sails; 

At closing, I have to pay the prorated portion of the property taxes on my current house. 

$340.00 that I do not have! In a week!

I have been doing this on a shoe string, re purposing, reusing, and really being cautious of where I spend money. I have a bunch of hours invested, and materials, but very little cash has been spent.

I am a bit dazed, but no where near out, I am offering a tremendous deal in my Ravelry shop, in an effort to meet this need, Head On!   I do not want to walk away from this home.

UPDATE:  4PM 4-4 Still 93 uses of the code remain

Buy One Pattern, get One Pattern FREE!

This is available to the first 100 People. You can use the code more than once if you like, You can share the link to this post, so friends can get in on the sale, Just please don't give my patterns away to your friends. I so desperately need the money.

It is my only source of income.

The Code you need to collect on this offer is   

New House

Thank You so much for taking the time to read this, and for helping me get into a home better suited to the life I am able to live.

May Day Dish Mop ~Free Crochet Pattern~

Happy May Day!

Now, are we talking the first of May?

Are we talking the need of Help?

Or is it Both?

Whatever the excuse to do something good for yourself, and the environment, It is a great day for this pattern.

 It will remain free, here on the blog, or if you want to print it for your own, personal use, you may buy a copy of the PDF in my Ravelry Shop for $1.49. By personal use, I mean you can print the pattern, and make as many of the dish mops as you please. You may gift the finished item, Sell the finished item, or use them yourself. You may NOT, in any way shape or form sell, or give the pattern to anyone else. Have the person who asks you for it visit my blog to get their own. Thank You for respecting me. I love to share, but I want it to be on my terms.

 This is where it started. I have been saying for over a year, that I need to crochet a new scrubbie top for the mop.  Well, today was the day!

 Cotton Yarn, Remnants from other projects. This is Lily, Sugar and Cream, but any Worsted Weight Cotton would do nicely for this. I used a 3.0 mm hook for the cotton layers, I want serious durability for this item, it will be used often.

 This one is unique, as it has a metal screw, holding the mop to the handle. While I am not a fan, because of the rust factor, it is not generally an issue that puts a person at serious risk of illness. It just is not pretty.

 So here it is, all taken apart. The original was 8 layers of sponge, and weird scubby pads, that honestly had little to no chance of being able to hold up.

 For my center, I wanted it to be smaller than the rest of the mop, some of my tall glasses narrow at the bottom. I want to be able to reach the bottom with a washing surface.

For this piece:  MAKE 2

Ch 4, join to form ring.  *Ch 4, dtr in ring twice, ch 4, sl st in ring* Repeat between * 3 times, for a total of 4 petals. Cut yarn, and weave in tails.

 This layer is whimsical, and fun, and ever so helpful. the cotton chain loops will get mooshed down into the rolls and crevises of some of our favorite glasses. You know, the ones that you hate to see the kids use for milk, but their favorite to grab.

For this piece: Make 1

Ch 4, join to form ring. *ch 15, sl st to center ring* Repeat between *  11 times, for a total of 12 loops. Cut the yarn, and weave in the ends. A bit tough, as it is only a chain surface, but you do not want the end loose, and hanging, so do it..

 Now for the FUN:  More up cycling, or re-purposing. This layer is made from the plastic mesh bag my grand daughters flavor pops come in. You can find similar mesh bags on other items in the grocery store. White ones are often on the frozen Turkey, sometimes the red ones can be found with potatoes, or Onions in the Produce section. Some are really soft, and will not give you a very scratchy product, which may be great for your Crystal, or China. You can use Tulle for this layer as well.

 Start by pulling the bag into a skinny tube, and cutting it into bits, about an inch wide.  Don't go smaller, it stretches into a thin strip that works out perfectly for this project.

 Once cut, you have rounds that need to be joined to turn it into the long strand you can crochet with.

Think of making plarn for joining these loops of plastic mesh.  If you need help, I am sure YouTube will have a video.   Oh, Kara from petalstopicot.com offered this one.  Love that it is labeled Green.
http://www.petalstopicots.com/2011/12/green-crocheting-making-plarn-html/

Scrubbing layer, Make 1
 For the foundation of this layer, Using the WW cotton,  Ch 4, join to form a ring. *ch 5, sc in the center ring.* Repeat between * 4 times, for a total of 5 loops

 For the scratchy portion of this layer, Use a larger hook, to make the process easier. I used an 8.0mm

Join to any of the ch 5 loops, *ch 7, sl st to same loop, ch 5, sl st to same loop, Ch 7, sl st to next loop. Ch 5, sl st to same loop,*  Repeat between * 4 times, for a total of 5 groups of  4 scratchy chains.  I pulled the longer loops toward the bottom, and the shorter ones up as I got ready to layer the mop, but it really is not required.

For the bottom layer, Make 1

Using the cotton yarn, and the 3.0mm hook,
ch 4, join to form a loop.
1) ch 3, 17 dc in center loop. sl st to top of ch 3.
2) ch 3, dc in same *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st.* repeat around, alternating 1 dc, 2 dc. sl st to the top of ch 3 to end the round.
3) repeat round 2
4) *ch 5, sk 1 dc, sc in next.* repeat between * around, placing final sc in base of first ch 5.
Cut yarn, and bury the ends somewhere in the midst of all those dc. :)
  This is not Flat, but not really cup shaped either, just slightly domed.

 When I put it together the first time, I only had 1 of the first layer, it was okay, but really I wanted more, thus the instructions tell you to make 2.

 Put your layers together, on the screw head, using the center loop. Insert screw in handle, Tighten with screwdriver, and get those dishes out of the sink, so you can have a good day!

The odds are, you do not have a handle like this just laying around, but what about fabricating one. I was thinking a wooden dowel, but it could get skanky, if you leave it in the dish water, Maybe an old toothbrush? and a self threading screw?  You would need a washer that would help to hold the layers flush. Just cut the brush head off with a fine tooth hand saw.  

I hope you enjoy this pattern, and will look for ways in your world to use what is on hand, to make your day better. Amelioration is not tough, and can go a long way toward saving this beloved planet.  Don't know that word? click Here 

This pattern will remain free, here on the blog, It is for your personal use.
 By personal use, I mean you can print the pattern, and make as many of the dish mops as you please. You may gift the finished item, Sell the finished item, or use them yourself. You may NOT, in any way shape or form sell, or give the pattern to anyone else. Have the person who asks you for it visit my blog to get their own. Thank You for respecting me. I love to share, but I want it to be on my terms.