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Pic of project that needs to be undone with arrow to completed skein with label

Sometimes Things Just Don’t Work Out

Despite all of our best intentions, some projects just aren’t meant to be. Whether the colors didn’t play nice, the cables were annoying and fiddly, or something else entirely, there is nothing wrong with admitting defeat.  (I mean, it’s just yarn after all!) When you do decide to pull the plug on a project, keep in mind that some yarns can be saved and used with a “better suited” project. “Frogging” is how we do that and I’m going to show you exactly what to do. Not every yarn can be salvaged but it’s still a handy thing to know how to do. So, dry your tears and let’s save us some yarn!

Step #1:  Rip, Rip, Rip It

Gif of frog and caption explains why it’s called frogging

First thing we’re going to do is cut the yarn.  You don’t have to do this step but I do think it makes the whole process much easier.  This will keep the unused yarn from the yarn that has been knit with and is now crimped.  Trust me, there’s less drama this way. We’re just going to make a snip here…

(Insert picture of cutting the yarn)

to separate what has and hasn’t been knit with.  Next we’re going to pull out the needles and start (GENTLY) pulling out all of our stitches.  As we go, we’re going to wind the yarn into a loose ball. This will prevent tangles and hair pulling later.

PIC of how I hold my project when I rip.  Caption: It helps to keep one hand lightly pinching your project like so.  This is especially important when you’re dealing with yarns that have a halo or are loosely spun.  We don’t want to hurt your yarn during this process and this helps prevents damage.

Keep winding your ball gently and loosely.  I want to really emphasize the words “gently” and “loosely”!  Your yarn is going through a bit of a traumatic experience right now.  It’s being pulled and stretched in ways it doesn’t want to go. Be loving towards your yarn during this difficult time.

(PICTURE OF KINKS)  Caption: Doesn’t this just remind you of the 90’s?  Good times, good times.

They’re kind of cute, don’t ya think?  Kinks like this are normal when unraveling.  Some of this will come out during the rinsing phase but it’s ok if it doesn’t disappear completely.  It’s still the same yarn you’ve come to love. When you knit, you won’t be able to tell that the kinks were ever there.  You may need to adjust your tension slightly but once you’ve knit a row or two, you won’t even notice.

If you get to a tough spot, gently use the tip of a knitting needle to unfelt the yarn that is sticking together.  If you absolutely can’t get the yarn to come loose, it’s ok if you cut the yarn. It’s a necessary evil sometimes. To start ripping the yarn again, lightly pull the project apart like this until you find a piece of yarn that comes easily.  Cut off the knotted part and get back to ripping.

PIC of how to start unraveling when you find a knot that you can’t rip out.

Where were we?  Oh yes, unraveling!  

(INSERT PICTURE 75% left).  And we keep going…. (Insert pic 50% left) and going… (insert pic 25% left)  anddddd we’re done!

PIC 100% done

As you have probably guessed by now, this is infinitely easier with slicker yarns like cotton and silk.  I don’t normally even try to save a mohair or angora yarn because all of those heavenly hairs felt so badly during the unraveling process.  Like I said, not every yarn can be rescued, but the process is worth a try for a well loved yarn.

Step #2:  Loop Around And Around And Around

Now that we’re done, we’re going to grab our trusty niddy noddy and start gently going round and round.  As always, it’s better to error on the side of being too loose rather than too tight. It doesn’t have to be pretty just yet!

PICTURE of winding the ball onto the niddy noddy

Now just tie off like normal…

(PICTURE of tying off the kinked yarn

And, if you’re ready for step 3, leave it loose.  If you’re not ready to give your yarn a bath, go ahead and put it into a loose hank.  (Check out step five in the article for help making a hank).

Step #3:  Time For A Dip In The Tub

In lukewarm water, we’re going to gently submerge the yarn.  Soap is optional but I do recommend it if you’ve been traveling a lot with this project.  Might as well start with a squeaky clean hank, amrite?

Pic of yarn in soapy water

You just want to gently wash your hank while being careful not to disturb your beautifully created loops.

When your yarn is all done, we’re going to let it dry, fully supported, overnight.

PIC  And here is a picture of a hank drying in a safe way.

Step #4:  Wind That Puppy Back Up

Once your yarn is bone dry, we’re going to begin putting the yarn back on the niddy noddy.  This will further protect the yarn’s structure and help it return to normal. Using the help of a chair, yarn swift, or a helpless family member, wind the dry hank BACK onto the niddy noddy.

PIC of yarn being held in place by an item or person with me winding it

We’re going to go ahead and be neater this time but we still don’t want to be tight.  Don’t try and force out the remaining kinks. They’re just like teenagers: they need their space and they hate when people try to change them.  

Now we just finish off the hank…

PIC of hank done so that they can see it’s still a little kinky

And that’s it!  You’ve saved an otherwise doomed ball of yarn.  Go forth and find a worthy project for your little skein.  And don’t forget to label it!

What About You?

Have you ever loved a yarn so much that you were willing to salvage it? How did frogging turn out? Let me know in the comment section below!