The Power of Positive Frogging
With apologies to Shakespeare: To frog or not to frog - that is the question.
The decision to rip out a portion (or all) of a knitted or crocheted project embodies the inevitable choice we all face over and over again in our yarney endeavors. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to continue the work and embrace its imperfections or to persevere against a sea of mistakes and, by ripping, end them. The choice rests in the hearts, hands and personalities of each individual knitter and crocheter prompting this reflection on our making (and unmaking) journeys.
In the world of knitting and crocheting, frogging refers to the process of unravelling our work to correct mistakes or make alterations. The term frogging derives from the phrase, “rip it out” = rip it, ripit, ribit, ribbit. Thus, in “knit-speak”, rip-it evolved into ribbit which became frogging.
As fiber artists and creators, we all have a natural aversion (some more so than others) to frogging our work. Whether we’re unraveling just a row or two or the whole piece, it’s never pleasant to contemplate losing our creative momentum and the emotional time and effort we’ve invested. Personally, I’ll try anything first before frogging my work and so, over the years, I’ve become evermore adept at correcting certain knitting mistakes without unraveling - picking up dropped stitches, correcting stitches and holes, fixing cables, cutting off ribbing, and many other forms of anti-frogging wizardry.
But alas - there are times where there’s really no other choice but to frog. I’m thinking about things like circular knitting with twisted stitches at the beginning which go unnoticed until well into the project. Unless you want a twisted headband instead of a hat, there’s nothing to be done in this situation but to frog. Or consider a mistake in a lace pattern much too complicated to fix on the fly that must be unraveled. And in crochet, fixing mistakes without going back isn’t even possible. There’s really no other choice but to live with the mistake the way it is or frog it.
Many times, however, the the choice is not that clear cut and the question of whether or not to frog seems more philosophical.
Should we embrace the inherent beauty of imperfections in our work, or look to frogging as an empowered choice?
Every knitted and crocheted piece carries with it a unique character. By their very nature, handmade pieces are beautifully imperfect - it’s part of their charm. By embracing the imperfections and unexpected twists that arise in our projects, especially as beginners, we honor our learning and the authentic, handmade nature of our craft. Furthermore, I can’t tell you how many times one of my “mistakes” led to an unexpected creative design element in my work - hooray for happy accidents!
By the same token, the act of frogging can also embody a positive and powerful mantra that celebrates the process of creating: it’s all knitting and crochet and it’s all good!
Frogging is, fundamentally, an act of resilience and empowerment. It signifies a willingness to confront mistakes and unforeseen challenges with grace and determination. Seen in this light, frogging is not an act of defeat but rather a commitment to excellence. By fearlessly unraveling and redoing our work, we move toward growth and greater proficiency in our craft.
It’s all knitting and crochet and it’s all good!
Frogging is also a natural part of the creative process offering us the opportunity to explore, experiment, create, undo, and recreate without fear or constraint. Through this lens of “positive frogging” we find joy in every stitch, whether it remains intact or is ultimately transformed into something else through the process of unraveling and reworking.
It’s all knitting and crochet and it’s all good!
So dear peeps, as we contemplate our work, let us do so with joy and gratitude embracing the beauty inherent in imperfection - or not - in which case we take a deep breath, recognizing that making the decision to frog is the hardest part. Then seize the power of positive frogging and LET IT RIP!
It’s all knitting and crochet and it’s all good!
Happy frogging and see you in the cozy.
~jan