Frogging Freedom

Frogging Freedom: Letting go of what no longer serves (even if it used to sparkle)

I’ve just been through all my WIPs.

Yes — all of them.
Yes — I had a lot.
No — I’m not sorry. (OK, I’m a little sorry.)

At one point, the pile included 16 personal projects and 9 work ones. That’s… a lot of unfinished stitches hanging around. All with different voices, whispering things like “Finish me, I’m nearly there!” or “You loved me once, remember?” or “Don’t you DARE frog me, I’m silk”

I listened to every one. And then I frogged a few anyway.

Because here’s the thing: some of those projects weren’t fun anymore. And if they’re not fun… why am I still doing them?

Guilt ≠ love

Sometimes we keep a project because we feel guilty.
Because we spent money on the yarn.
Because we told someone we were knitting it for them.
Because we should finish what we start.

But guilt is a terrible reason to keep going. Guilt doesn’t spark joy, and it definitely doesn’t help you pick up the right needle size after 7 months of ignoring a sock heel.

I’m learning to pause and ask:

Am I continuing this out of love… or out of obligation?

Because if it’s not love anymore, maybe it’s time to let it go.

What I’ve kept vs. what I’ve frogged

I kept the WIPs that still make me curious. The ones that feel a bit like puzzles. The ones that are hard, maybe, but in a satisfying way, like stretching after a walk. They make me want to try again.

I frogged the ones I was actively avoiding. The projects that gave me the “ugh” feeling. The ones I kept moving to the bottom of the basket like they wouldn’t notice.

I let go of a half-finished shawl that had lost its sparkle. A baby cardigan that turned into a maths problem I didn’t sign up for. And a scarf I started several winters ago that was just… too many colours. It felt amazing.

It’s not just knitting

All of this has me thinking about what else I’m holding onto that no longer fits.
Old routines? Projects? Expectations?
Maybe even parts of myself I’ve outgrown?

I’m not eliminating everything. I’m still exercising, for one. That’s essential. But I am ditching the guilt about not being perfect at it. I’m ditching the idea that I have to finish everything I start, just because I started it.

What I want — in my knitting and in my life — is room. Room for joy. Room to breathe. Room to cast on something new, without the weight of what’s unfinished dragging behind me.

Nudge

So here’s my gentle nudge:

What have you let go of lately, and how did it feel?

If you’ve recently frogged a project, dropped a habit, or changed your mind about something, I’d love to hear about it.

You can tell me in the comments, or come share in the Knitting Confidence Facebook group.

Let’s celebrate the things we’ve released — with no guilt, no shame, and maybe a toast to freedom.

Nessa