To go frogging in crochet means simply to rip out your stitches; to unravel your project. This term is new to me, since I only heard about it this year and the earliest reference I could find it on the internet was 2015. However it has probably been around a lot longer.
From what I have read is that when we said rip, rip, rip as we are pulling out a project we seem to sound like a frog, and so the term frogging was coined. It is a lot more fun to say I am frogging then I am saying ripping apart my project.
If you haven’t guessed by now, today I am going to write about the art of frogging, or ripping apart your project. Yes, I know what you are thinking, why write about frogging, it isn’t hard to rip out? Crocheting is a process, you can learn from every act you perform. It took me a few years to figure this out but there is a right and a wrong way to unravel a crochet project. One way will lead to entanglements and one does not. Now, I hope I have your interest peaked.
How to frog or rip out a project;
Over the years with my students and even with myself, I have noticed our first impulse when ripping out a project was to yank or pull the yarn out as fast as you could. Although this might work for a band aid, it is not the best technique for yarn. While watching my students, I see most will pull up toward their heads and to the side. The problem is by just pulling, it can cause not only undo tension on the yarn it will also cause it to break at times, it ultimately weakens the threads. It can also lead to a tangled mess of yarn on your living room floor that could take hours to unravel.
Some yarn like your basic Red Heart worst weight, frogs easily. That is one of the reasons I recommend this yarn for my newer students. It is easy to work with. However there are other yarns that are more of a challenge for example, Mohair or most of your softer yarns -those that when you look at them you will see fuzz hair. When frogging they catch will on itself and in some cases creates knots. Have you ever successfully unravelled the yarn only to discover that it has mysteriously tangled itself together while it laid at your feet. I know – I have been there.
1. Go slow this is not a race, but going slow will save time in the long run.
2. I have found that if I pull the yarn downward instead of up, than I have less problems with tangles.
3. If I am working with a difficult yarn -I find if I hold my finger and thumb gently on the stitch I am pulling the yarn, it seems to help the yarn not to break so easily.
4. If I am frogging a large project I usually stop every five rows and just take the time to roll the end into a ball. This seems to help me prevent my yarn from tangling so much.
5. If you notice that the yarn is starting to get twisted or tangled stop pulling and gently loosen the yarn where you are having troubles.
6. If it is impossible and and you know you would never be able to untangle it, use the scissors and cut it out. This is a last resort of course.
I hope some of these suggestions help the next time you need to go frogging.
Until next time, Keep those hooks flying.