rip for something you love--for yourself, since you mentioned that to be a challenge.

try to not let guilt take over. postponing fun doesn't always make one get to "should" faster, i think. whatever you knit, fellow olympic knitters are cheering you on!

Have a bath! One of the best poles known to man. And if you possibly can, take a book with you too.

By the way, I put a post about my trip to Paris on my blog. Thank you so much for your wonderful advice. I didn't mention you in the post, but thanks to your dictionary of food terms I did start asking for my steak seignant rather than bleue, which meant Rich was prepared to try some. We had a really lovely time!

Have a bath! One of the best poles known to man. And if you possibly can, take a book too.

By the way, I put a post about my trip to Paris on my blog. Thank you so much for your wonderful advice. I didn't mention you in the post, but thanks to your dictionary of food terms I did start asking for my steak seignant rather than bleue, which meant Rich was prepared to try some. We had a really lovely time!

I'm sure you've told us... but what is that GORGEOUS red yarn???
I neeeeeeeeeed some.
I've been hunting just hat sort of colorway for what seems like ages...

hope you went with the bath and the fufillment of your knitting dreams...

I'd imagine for someone like you, who also designs patterns, that enjoyable knitting is a very important thing. I rarely make my own videos anymore, because it is my job, and I'd have to really make it fun to invest all that time in it, since I do that all day. I don't know if I could design patterns and knit for "fun" at the same time, but I imagine that I would avoid projects that are just frustrating and unhappy.

I'm struggling through my first Fair Isle, but it is so fun, since I get to see the pattern develop so quickly. For me, that is a good balance. I'd agree with the rest - get some wine and your socks and enjoy looking at that beautiful red yarn... from across the room.

Michelle Kwan went to the Olympics with big dreams. She has bowed out, but gracefully, and I think everyone respects her for that.
I considered joining team Clapotis, but I have found that maybe I didn't train right, there are obstacles in my way...So I am turning the Olympics into a finish-a-thon so that I can finish your lovely Pearl Buck Swing Jacket.

In other words....frog it. Life is too short to work on something you don't love!

I wish I had a pole to hand you. I've been in a terrible knitting slump myself--seems like every project I touch turns to poo. I even had to make a simple hat three times!

i love the circle jacket too -- too bad that i'm too fat for it (so sad)

anyway, punt the knitting. if you aren't loving it, then leave it alone.

by the way, *poking you with a stick* when is that lise bootie pattern going to be ready. i have demon twin babies to knit for.

*the norwegian runs after you up the hill, grabs your knitting out of your hands, frogs it, and then gives you a glass of wine. or a pole.* do you really want a pole? are you sure? didn't think you liked knitting with big needles. also, i may be the only norwegian alive who doesn't own any skis or poles.

hope you got a glass of wine pronto!

Wine and bath should be the first order of business, of course. Second, snuggle the baby; third, frog the unpromising sweater if there is any danger that it will become an emotional burden. I keep some balls of yarn around just because I love to pet them and admire them -- I will never knit them into anything.

But . . . at the risk of being a stick in the mud and ruining all the fun around here, I would love the Laura pattern. In fact, I would buy it the very day it became available. I'm expecting a new niece in six months and I would love to have the pattern about five and a half months from now so I can present her with her first handknit item upon her birth. Of course, it will be too hot for a sweater until October, so that buys everyone a couple of extra months.

So I'm basically saying "eat, drink, and be merry," and if you finish the Laura pattern in the next six months I'll be happy happy happy. If not, no sweat. The baby can manage with just three handknitted hats, one sweater, and a blanket from me.

Oh dear -- she's going to be spoiled, isn't she?

Knit something you like -- be a spectator -- have some wine ;-)

BTW I love your orange "circle" jacket in the new Interweave Knits. What a great design!

I hope you took that bath -- with bubbles -- and I hope you had wine, too.

Kate - bath - now.
Frog - get the woman a glass of wine - now.
Tadpole - sleep - shhhhh - now.

Take the bath. Frog the sweater. Make the shawl you have been dreaming of for a long time, but only if you feel like it. :)

Also, I love your designs, they have classic style and great clean lines.

Bath with candles and wine and knitting on something you Love.

*Hands you big glass of wine*

Hi Kate -

First time I've ever commented here, but I've read your blog forever.
I love your work. I bought your Samantha pattern awhile ago and am waiting for a friend to have a girl so I can make it. I've also knit the clapotis. Your blog is great.

I always say that I have to enjoy knitting what I'm knitting AND I have to like how it is coming out. As soon as one or the other or both aren't there, I am so fast at stopping. If I really hate it and don't ever want to see the yarn again, I will even throw it all out. Once I gave myself this freedom, I stopped agonizing. Also, sometimes, I have to live with it a bit longer to figure out what is bothering me, so I will put it away and if it still isn't right, then I frog or toss. I hate being a slave to my project or my stash. We're supposed to be doing this because we love it - right?? I'd dig right into that shawl and not give it a second thought.

Also, and way more important than all this, congratulations on your baby. I think she is so, so, so adorable and I love the pictures. She looks so very wise. (I also think she looks like you)

Anyway, keep up all your great work - especially your mom stuff. I did my happiest knitting when my guys were babies.