Today is the first day of December. The sunsets are almost at their earliest, the cloud cover where I live is almost continuous, and the crocheting urge is upon me.
It's also time to be colorful, to decorate in bright reds, white whites, and holiday greens.
I decided to continue with a project I abandoned late last year - a blanket in Christmas colors (white, pink, red ombre) that wasn't coming out the way I wanted. I did some calculations in my mind and decided I could not fix it.
Meaning....
It was time to frog it. But I couldn't do it last year. I had a lot of time invested. Time would have to pass. And then the pandemic hit. Months passed before I got the urge to crochet again.
A couple of weeks ago, it was time.
In the world of knitting and crocheting (and cross-stitch, too, as I recall from years ago) "frogging" is tearing out part or all of a project - so named because we "rip it. rip it".
So a-frogging I went, to the horror of my spouse. He's seen me rip out row, but never an entire project.
"Sometimes, you just have to start over", I explained.
I downloaded a free pattern from a website that is a social network for crocheters, knitters, and fiber artists. I rarely visit it although I've had an account for several years.
I wanted something easy. Instead of the blanket in Christmas colors I had originally planned, I decided to downsize the project to a throw.
 |
| Just a section of the throw |
In that way, maybe, just maybe, it will be ready by early next year.
It won't be ready for Christmas, but here it is so far. It's easy, it looks good with the super bulky soft yarn I had bought from a crafts chain store which is now out of business, and the pattern is working for me. Chewing gum for the mind. Just what I need in the evenings.
It's taken me years to get to this point of acceptance.
It's part of a lesson I learned years ago from crocheting. Sometimes, it is just better to rip out your work and start over. It's a lesson that sometimes applies to life, too. The old doesn't work. It's time for something new. And, it's not a good idea to have other unfinished projects lying around. Life is too short.
I have a whole winter ahead of me.
...frogging is a new term for me and I guess that I hate frogging too.
ReplyDeleteWise decision!
ReplyDeleteOh, my... I haven't crocheted in years! I used to do it a lot, beginning with granny square afghans of course! I still have my needles, maybe I could... no, that would just add to my list of unfinished projects. That's a pretty yard and I like how the colors blend in and out. That kind of yard is amazing.
ReplyDeleteLove this. I've frogged many times in life and rarely regret it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lesson hard learned, in life or in crocheting.
ReplyDeleteI've ripped rows out of my knitting but never knew it had a name.
I love the colors. Yeah, there is that moment of time invested where you don't want to frog. But ultimately, you're putting the yarn to good use rather than having it tied up in something that'll never be useful. And there's something calming about frogging.
ReplyDeleteHey, I crochet too. In fact, I have 4 orders for lap blankets this year already as Christmas presents. I'm almost done with one of my granddaughter's. Then I have my daughter's, one more granddaughter's, my great granddaughter's & I think I may make one for myself, but I've never heard of this before. Can you elaborate on it or possible tell me how to do it???
ReplyDeleteSunset is little before 4 in afternoon, The throw looks soft.
ReplyDeleteStay Safe and Coffee is on