Frogging, and why I’m in love with it.
Yes, you read that title correctly. It’s hard to imagine that someone could be in love with the destruction of their hard work, but it’s a feeling that’s been a long time in the making. We all make mistakes, but by embracing frogging instead of dreading it, I’ve gained a new perspective and happiness in my art.
What is frogging?
First, what exactly is frogging, and why do we call it that?? When crocheting, you typically have 1 active loop on your hook (as opposed to several, as seen in knit or tunisian crochet). If you remove your hook, it’s easy to pull on your working yarn and pull that loop, and the prior loops, loose. If you really rip at it, you can easily remove several, or even all, of your stitches! To “rip it” sounds like “ribbit”, a very froggy sound, so then you have frogging!
Why would I love frogging?
I get this a lot. It can seem ridiculous to love the idea of destroying my hard work. But here’s the thing - that effort was still made. The stitches no longer exist, but my hands still worked to make them, my brain still processed that pattern, and that work still brought me joy. I still gained valuable practice and experience, even if I don’t have tangible proof of it.
Finding the need to frog can also be a big milestone in someone’s crochet journey. Especially when you’re first learning, it can be difficult to really see your stitches. Recognizing each type of stitch takes a lot of practice. To look back on your work and recognize where an error was made takes a certain level of skill that should be celebrated! It’s a valuable skill to be able to assess your crocheting with precision.
It’s also easier to be happy with a finished piece when that error isn’t staring you in the face. Other people may not see or notice it, but when you know it’s there, it can haunt you! A bit of frogging to make sure that you put your very best effort into your craft can make you more satisfied with the results of your hard work.
So should I frog a piece or adapt a pattern?
That’s completely up to you! Either way, you’re still gaining valuable experience. Before making a decision, take a few minutes to look at your project:
Is the mistake a changing the overall shape or look you’re striving for? If so, you’re likely better off frogging.
Is your stitch count off by 1 or 2, or the overall look unaltered by the mistake? Embrace the chaos. Add or remove a stitch as needed, add an extra row, or add a border to even out an uneven edge. Make it a design feature and get creative.
As always, the important thing is that you take joy in your work. If you don’t like the rules, make your own! Crochet in a way that makes you happy! But consider that frogging could make you happy too, if you let it.
