3 Methods of Fixing Mistakes by Frogging Your Knitting

Mistakes happen during knitting, even to the most experienced knitters. There is no need to panic, because you can fix mistakes with frogging!

What Is Frogging?

It sounds like a ridiculous word to be associated with knitting, but there is a method to the madness. Frogging is a technique used in knitting to fix mistakes. Pulling out yarn is called ripping. The repetitive ripping, ripping, ripping sounds a bit like the sound a frog makes- hence, the technique called frogging. 

Frogging is a simple process that involves removing your needle and the sections of stitches that are part of the mistake. There are three methods of frogging and they are explained below.

Method 1: Remove the Stitches

Using the first method of frogging, you will remove all of your stitches until you reach the row where you spotted the mistake. Using your knitting needle, you will pick up the row of stitches. Here are the steps:

1. Mark the mistake.
2. Remove your needles.
3. Lay the project on a flat surface.
4. Gently pull the working yarn to slowly remove the stitches.
5. Continue to pull the yarn one stitch at a time once you reach the row where the mistake is. 
6. Under the row with the mistake, insert your needle into the first loop, pull the yarn from the next loop and pick up the next loose loop. Continue this process across the row, making sure that the loops are facing in the right direction.
7. Continue knitting normally again.

Method 2: Use Your Needle

Using the second method of frogging, you will use your knitting needle as a lifeline. Here are the steps:

1. Mark the mistake.
2. Use your needle to pick up the stitches below the row where the mistake was made.
3. Remove the top needle.
4. Lay the garment on a flat surface.
5. Pull the working yarn one stitch at a time once you reach the lifeline needle.
6. Continue knitting normally again.

Method 3: Use a Lifeline

Using the third method of frogging, you will thread a lifeline through the stitches below where the mistake was made. Here are the steps:

1. Mark the mistake.
2. Using a tapestry needle, thread a contrasting color yarn.
3. Use the needle with the lifeline yarn to pick up the stitches below where you made the mistake.
4. Remove your needles.
5. Lay the garment on a flat surface.
6. Gently pull the working yarn to slowly undo your stitches until you reach the lifeline.
7. Insert the needles.
8. Remove the lifeline.
9. Resume knitting.

After you have used the frogging method to remove the mistake, you are ready to resume knitting. But, what do you do when your yarn is curly from being knitted? No problem! If you are struggling to use the curly yarn, steam it for a minute and it will straighten out. 

Fixing mistake in your knitting is a pain and can be time consuming, so it is best to add lifelines throughout your project to make fixing mistakes easier.