Psychology of Frogging Successfully

Frogging....knitter's term humorously playing with the words RIP-IT, RIP-IT.

As a Wardrobe Knitter, I am pretty interested in wardrobe pieces, which could also be sewn.  And I was an avid seamstress in my younger days!  But what I LOVE about knitting, as opposed to sewing, is that if the items does not work out...you can unravel it and start over completely, without a loss of your precious fabric.  Well, more than that, knitting offers the ability to make the Fabrics AND the Garments.  And it starts with a ball of yummy yarn.

I've frogged MANY projects that are nearly completed. If I'm working on a new type of construction, new type of yarn, it's not always obvious to me how it will fit. How will that garment that looks gorgeous on a flat-chested model, translate into my figure?  How will my yarn drape, compared to that of the recommended yarn?  I am pretty comfortable with a particular construction style...working in pieces from bottom-up with set-in sleeves.  So almost anything outside that, particularly top-down seamless, is not easy for me to interpret along the way.  I absolutely do not have any understanding of try-on-as-you-go that everyone raves about top-down seamless.  I can try on, but still see that last line of stitches completed that don't have the correct tension until the un-knit row is formed, or the bust shaping is completed, or the sleeve is installed?

So I was trying a wonderful top-down cardigan pattern, new and no one else has made it yet, outside of the designer.  So there were no notes from others on Ravelry to look at it.  And I was working a size larger than the designer actually worked.  The schematics caused me concern from the start...but it was a new style, and maybe it should fit differently than what I've done so far?

My concerns persisted the entire project...but I knit forth, wanting to see if I was wrong.  I knit almost 1300 yards of yarn, got to the last sleeve, half-way through, and just could not see myself ever wearing it.  The armholes were just too deep, making too much fabric around my upper arms. The sleeves were baggy on top.  Just not my thing, and not what I imagined from the model photo (yeah, I'm no model, but I have vivid imagination).

I corresponded with the designer, took photos and posted them on my Ravelry project page.  And slept on it.

So here's the psychology that helps for Successful Frogging.  First...DO NOT FEAR FROGGING. IF YOU FEAR FROGGING, YOU WILL NEVER TRY ANYTHING NEW!  Secondly...ASK FOR ADVICE OR HELP if it is something that you think can be fixed, or re-worked without a full frogging.  Finally...when you have all the information to make a decision, do so before you move on to another project. Seriously, decide, then FROG OR FINISH, and move along.  And in my case, I have a new pile of wound yarn, ready for something new!