Cleaning implements

Jane is ready to give the Hitty carpets a beating! To make a Hitty Carpet beater, we suggest practising the method with kitchen string first because it is easier to manipulate and to see what you are doing. After you get the hang of it you can try making it with wire, like the one I made for Jane in this picture.

.

.

First loop

First cut about 60 inches or 150 cm of kitchen string. Thread a darning needle and pull the needle to half way along the string.  Tape the string to a surface (craft mat or table top), about two inches from the end (the extra string will become the handle).

Make the first loop right above the tape and to the left, easing the strings around the curve so they keep running parallel with each other.  Be sure the leading end of the loop is under the taped end.

.

.

Second loop

Make the second loop, going towards the top, easing the two strings around as before, and keeping the leading edge on the top.

.

.

Third loop

The third loop is going to go over the top of the second loop, through the first loop (over and then under the strings) and over the handle end...

 

.

.

Fourth loop

The fourth loop goes up to the same height as the second loop, on top of all the previous strings on the way up and weaving through them all on the way down (here is where the needle is handy!) .

.

.

Fifth loop

The fifth and final loop of string is woven through the third loop on its way back to join the handle!

.

.

Complete

Here is what the rug beater looks like when it is complete. This is a good sample to keep for reference -  as it is made of string it will be floppy, but if you want to actually keep it as Hitty's rug beater, you can paint it with clear-drying white glue, one or two coats to stiffen it.

To finish the handle of a wire one, I just twist the four ends together for as long as I want the handle to be. If you are twisting the string one you will need to do that after at least one coat of glue.

.

.

Bamboo Skewer

As for a string mop - cut about 5 1/2 inches or 14 cm off a bamboo skewer...

.

.

Kitchen String

...wind some kitchen string ten or 15 times around your four fingers...

.

.

Laid out with tie

Make two cuts to get short lengths of string, then lay  the skewer onto the strings...

.

.

Tied once

... and tie them tightly at one end using more string.

.

.

folded over and tied again

Flip the string over and tie again very tightly...trim the ends.

.

.

Ready to deal with the dust bunny infestation

Arianell, Jane and Henrietta are ready for spring cleaning!

.

.

.