Undoing, erm, Large Mistakes :)

#1

Whoops!.. my mom bought be some beautiful yarn for my birthday, and I was so excited about knitting with it, I just went right into a scarf without any planning or foresight. Of course, I made it too wide, and I realized about half way though it would be much cuter if I used some elongated stitches. It’s pretty long by now… is it possible to undo all I’ve done and start over again, and if so, would this be advisable? Or do you think I would just ruin the yarn or do something equally terrible…

:slight_smile: Thanks for the help!! Good lesson - take a deep breath and plan before you start knitting!

#2

If you really want to take it ALL out, generally all you have to do is slide the needle out and pull on the working yarn. If the yarn is smooth, the stitches should come apart. Most yarn I’ve worked with comes undone easily enough and doesn’t ruin, but I’ve had some that just was not worth the effort. Depending on the fiber content, it could be kind of kinky after it’s undone, and I know someone else (Ingrid, maybe? :P) would have suggestions for getting it to relax.

#3

spritzing with water and wrapping the yarn around a chair top then tying it to secure it (so it doesnt fall apart) and hanging it on something to dry helps, or just wrapping it, tying it, and then hanging it in the bathroom while you take a shower, I’ve heard helps.

#4

When I’ve taken out lots of knitting, I just wind it back into a ball and knit with it again. I haven’t bothered to straighten it out. Maybe I would, though, if I was doing an elongated stitch. I’d have to see how it looked.

If frogging ruined yarn, we’d all be knee deep in unusuable tangles. The only yarn that you might have trouble with is some of the novelty stuff.

#5

Wow, you folks are great… that was the first time I’ve ever been to the forum; I didn’t expect to get feedback right away! :slight_smile: This website/community is the best, thanks so much!

It makes me happy to know that it’s not infrequent for people undo and redo and start over again.

Off to go redo what will become a very, very lovely scarf… :smiley:

#6

That, my friend, is the understatement of the year. We’ve all done it and will do it again! :wink: