For those of you who are unfamiliar with the terms, WIP means “work-in-progress,” and UFO is “unfinished object.” When does a WIP become a UFO? To me the issue is the P for progress. If no progress has been made in a long time, it’s usually either time to muscle through it until it’s finished, or rip it out and put the yarn back in the stash until it calls out to be made into something else.
Of course, the definition of a long time will vary from crocheter to crocheter. Some folks consider a long time to be a week or two, some measure a long time in months, and I have to admit, I have had projects around for years before I actually did something about them one way or the other.
Most of the time you dig up one of the moldy oldies not because you were looking for it, but because you were looking for something else and it got it in your way. If you greet it like a long-lost friend, more than likely you are going to finish it, and soon. Projects like that can be a real boost to the part of you that requires instant gratification—you can get something done in half the time you would normally take because a good chunk of it is done already. Wow, a new sweater in a week! That is always pretty exciting.
If finding this project makes you cringe, break out in a cold sweat, or run away in fear, for goodness sake, frog the thing so it can’t haunt your dreams any longer. There is no such thing as time wasted crocheting. Even if you spent hours on whatever this is, if you are going to hate it when it’s over, rip it out and move on. At least you got some good crocheting hours out of it, so don’t make yourself crazy finishing something you don’t really want anymore. And maybe the yarn would make you happy if it was worked up into something else.
Here are some common reasons that the finish-or-frog question comes into play, and some hints on how to make the right decision.
You find a partially finished baby sweater and the baby is in high school. This one could go either way. Clearly the intended recipient doesn’t need it, but on the other hand, there are always babies needing lovely crocheted gifts. I base this one on this condition: if it has weathered the years well, I would finish it and be prepared for the next baby shower I was invited to. Bonus points on timing if the original baby is now expecting—you can finish the sweater, give it to the newborn, and have a funny story to tell at the shower.
You find what was supposed to be a cute, trendy garment well after the trend has passed. This, too, is a timing issue. If the trend has recently passed into fashion oblivion, frog it. You aren’t going to want to wear it out in public, and the yarn is probably good for something else. If the trend passed into oblivion twenty years or more ago, you might want to finish it—it’s going to come back into style any minute!
It was ugly then, it’s ugly now. Frog it. Life is too short for ugly crochet. We all occasionally make mistakes putting projects together—frog it and forget it. At least there won’t be proof of your error in judgment, just some more yarn sitting on the shelf.
The pattern is missing or so poorly written that it made you crazy, which is why it got stuffed in the closet in the first place. Frog it now before it strikes again! Crochet is supposed to be a leisure activity—sure, it can be challenging, but it shouldn’t be something that makes you want to tear your hair out. Destroy this project before it destroys you!
The frog-or-finish question does not have to be settled immediately upon discovering a candidate. Sometimes what you need to do is work a few rows on the piece. If it’s fun, finish it. If you smack your forehead and say, “That’s why I put this down in the first place—what a pain in the rear!” you may now frog with impunity.
I have already acknowledged that I am the type of person that can’t throw out yarn, there are some people who can’t frog half a project no matter how much they know that even if they finish it they won’t be happy with it. In this case, you still have a few options.
Find a crochet buddy in the same situation and trade WIPS. She finishes yours, you finish hers. It’s quite possible that the WIP that made you crazy will amuse your friend and vice versa, so this one works out great—two FOs for the price of one and no one wants to cry.
If it’s wool or another animal fiber, felt it! Felt the work you did and then turn the felt into something useful. Since you can cut crochet after it’s felted without it unraveling, you can turn the piece into anything from a purse or tote bag to a pot holder to a set of coasters. You wind up with something useful without investing much more time into your losing proposition.
Donate it. I have a wonderful senior citizens’ center nearby that will graciously accept UFOs as well as yarn donations. Some of the ladies think it is fun to repurpose a UFO, so there is always someone who is happy to see it.
Develop a taste for free form! Finish it up if you must, but you don’t have to finish it up in the way you first thought you would. Forget the pattern and make it go together whatever way you want it to. The pattern police are not going to come and take you away, I promise. Although the free-formers might come and collect you as one of their own!
For afghans, throw an edging on what you have and call it done. So what if you intended to make a king-size bedspread but it’s only 18 inches square? It’s now done! If you can’t use it, donate it to a pet shelter or clinic. Many shelters collect smallish afghan parts to put in with a frightened animal to give it something to snuggle up with. Your work will be put to good use.
If you really don’t want to finish it, and you really can’t bear to frog it, give it to a friend to frog. When I was in a local yarn store last week, two of the women who worked there were patiently unpicking and rewinding the yarn from a completely finished sweater. The maker hated it when she was finished with it and didn’t know anyone it would fit, but couldn’t bear to frog it herself. Maybe you have a friend who is ruthless. Or not ruthless, but able to rip out your project because she is not nearly as emotionally attached to it as you are. Let her at it.
No matter what you choose to do with a moldy oldie, you will probably be happier in the long run if you do something with it rather than let it continue to gather dust. And if your project pile goes down significantly, you won’t feel the least bit guilty about starting something new!