If you find a mistake that is too far back to easily correct, you can “frog” or unravel your knitting to reach and fix the mistake or to completely start your project over.
What is Frogging?
Unraveling worked yarn is called “frogging.” This can be useful if you find a mistake in a knitting pattern you have been working and need to go back and try again. Frogging is also a great way to recycle yarn. You can undo a wonky practice project and reuse the yarn or unravel an old sweater to make a new hat.
By the way, if you came here to knit a frog (not frog a knit) I have a free frog knitting pattern available at this link.
Below you will find both video and written guides to help you learn to frog rows of knitting and fix mistakes.
Video Guide: How to Frog Knitting
Written Guide: How to Frog Knitting and Fix a Mistake
Frogging a Whole Project
If you are working on a project and decide you just don’t want to make it anymore, you can salvage the yarn by frogging your knitting. Frogging a work in progress is simple. Just pull the knitting needle out of the live stitches and start pulling on the working yarn; this will cause your knitting to unravel. Lay the yarn in a neat pile as you pull, to avoid tangles. Then, wind the frogged yarn into a new ball and you will be ready to start over or begin a new project.
Frogging to Fix Mistakes in Knitting
If you spot a knitting mistake in your work that is difficult to fix with simple tricks, you may need to frog a few rows so you can reach and correct your mistake. This can be a little tricky and you may not get it right the first time. Practice on a piece that you do not mind unraveling completely.
Frog, Step 1:
Carefully pull the knitting needle out of your live stitches, making sure you do not stretch your work.
Frog, Step 2:
Gently pull the working yarn; this begin unraveling the knit stitches.
Frog, Step 3:
To prevent columns from running, be sure to pull the yarn slowly, undoing one knit stitch at a time.
Frog, Step 4:
When you have reached the row with your mistake, finish undoing stitches until you have reached the end of a row. Check that you have stopped undoing stitches so that your working yarn is in the same location it was when you removed the knitting needle.
Frog, Step 5:
Correct the mistake. In this example, a twisted stitch must be untwisted; turn the stitch so the legs are no longer crossed. Take care not to stretch the knitting, as this will cause stitches to run.
Frog, Step 6:
Correct the mistake. In this example, a twisted stitch must be untwisted; turn the stitch so the legs are no longer crossed. Take care not to stretch the knitting, as this will cause stitches to run.
Frog, Step 7:
Insert your knitting needle back into your stitches. Ensure that it will be in the same position in which it started. Here, we removed the needle by pulling toward the left. To reinsert it, it should be carefully pushed through the stitches moving toward the right.
Frog, Step 8:
When you have replaced all your stitches onto the knitting needle, you can resume your pattern at the beginning of the row where your mistake had been.
Practice With My Knitting Patterns
In this guide I was making a Simple Face Scrubby. Knit along with me. This pattern is part of my Simple Washcloth Knitting Pattern Collection.
Up Next
After you have learned to frog, you may have a pile of loose yarn. Don’t let it tangle and go to waste. Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in the next lesson.
Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index