Make a slip knot, chain five, slip stitch in the first chain and double crochet five times in the ring. Follow the pattern and repeat single crochet until you reach the desired length. If you miss a stitch, you can count again or better still use a stitch marker.
Doesn’t work?
Don’t worry! Frog your work and start again.
I started crocheting two months back and picked up the needle and a skein of yarn after watching many you-tube videos and going through free patterns. Between those tips , tricks and rules of crochet, I learnt that frogging was the most important thing. Hard but lets you start all over again.
In these last two months, I made a few coasters, a rag rug, and two small baskets. But I also frogged all of my work many times to start afresh.
If you are wondering what frogging is, it’s a word crocheters use to rip off the work they have done. It felt hard at the start but once you know that frogging is an important part of crocheting, you get used to it.
During the last month or so, I have not just frogged my crochet work but also my irritable mood.
It is doable if you ignore what is happening or why some words are hurting. You have a choice to frog it or carry on. To me, carrying on meant building upon how I was feeling. It resulted in piling on one thing over the other and a making a mountain of all that was coming to me. But frogging meant delayering and starting again. In the latter, I had the choice to stay calm and not react. And that has been the need of the hour.
When I frog, I let my mind rest. I feel like I can reset how I feel. And then I begin again – crocheting and frogging in life.
Writing a non-fiction piece for the mega grid on YeahWrite’s Weekly Writing Challenge #500
happiness and food 
Parul, I’m excited that you’ve found crochet as a creative outlet! As a hooker (that’s what we call ourselves, because crochet hook!) from way back, I’m always happy to welcome new folks into the fold. I like this metaphor of frogging as a way to describe the digging down through layers in your life, of giving yourself an opportunity to start again, of forgiving yourself mistakes. It’s such important work, and the comparison works well.
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That’s a wonderful way of using a crocheting technique in sorting through real life situations, Parul. 🙂 I like it..Crocheting and frogging in life!
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I never heard of frogging (I use patterns in Spanish), but I’ve been doing it all along. It’s a tad frustrating to have to do it, but it feels so much better to delayer and start anew. Like in real life!
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I hadn’t heard of the term before. But yes, it makes so much sense sometimes to start over.
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This is an apt metaphor, for sure. I too crochet, and know the value of just frogging and starting over.
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What a great metaphor!
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I really enjoyed this and appreciated the connection between ‘frogging’ your crochet work as well as your mood. It was a nice transition to get to the meat of your essay. Also, to be frank, I’m super jealous of all you crocheters (or hookers as Asha calls them which I love!). Sounds like an excellent hobby. Thank you for joining us on the megagrid this week. We hope to see you in the Coffeehouse!
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The shift from crocheting to real life worked so well here. It let me settle into something tangible, and apply it to more existential second half. But more than that, what a great message. Thank you for sharing.
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I have no relation with crocheting, other than admiring your’s and Anamika’s beautiful crochet pieces on Instagram. 🙂 So no, I haven’t heard of this term “frogging”. I like how this process of frogging is helping you to reset your unrest mind and start fresh. Thank you for sharing this food for thought, Parul. 🙂
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