How to Frog/Unravel Unwanted Crocheted /Knitted Items | Cherry and Crochet Designs

 Frogging unwanted projects

If you have unwanted or old crocheted/knitted projects that didn't turn out so well, or you no longer need, why not unravel them and reuse the yarn for something else? I'll let you into a secret, this is what I do with most of my designs that I won't use. I've got it down to a fine art now, and figured it would perhaps help if you have stumbled across a few projects recently that you no longer need, or, like me, you try to be sustainable about the yarn you purchase and therefore reusing yarn is great. I've also been known to underestimate how much yarn I need for a last minute gift and resort to frogging designs after taking a quick picture, (this is what happened with my bone toy pattern). 

Step 1

This is probably quite obvious, but you want to check if the item is crocheted or knitted. If you have made the item yourself, then you know it is, but if not, check the seams to confirm it isn't knitted then cut into shape and stitched together. I tend to only unravel items that are definitely knitted or crocheted, so normally I don't have to worry about this. 

Step 2

Find the end. This can be quite tricky, but it is usually visible by which way around the stitches are and also looking for any unusual lumps signifying an end that has been woven into the fabric. In the picture below, it is clear that the end is where I am pointing because the stitches are that way around and there is an unusually thick row here. Ensure you get the end that is at the end of the fabric, not the end formed at the beginning. I've done this many times and it is exceptionally frustrating. 

Step 3

Un-weave the end from the fabric and unknot it. It should now look like when you have finished a project and are just about to fasten off. You should also remove any external pieces sewn onto it, for example pockets. Put these aside and frog them later. 

Step 4

Pull the yarn and it will unravel. This is the fun part. I would recommend forming a pile on the floor that you can then wind into a ball of yarn easily. It should unravel easily, if not, it is usually that a strand of yarn has got caught on another and tugging at both of them should pull it apart. 

Step 5

Wind your pile of yarn into a ball of wool, either by using a yarn winder or by winding a ball of wool as I do (as detailed in this post). 

Now you are done! Enjoy using your reused yarn!

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