Thank you to everyone who sent in entries to the Summer Knitting Competition! Kate and I have been enjoying re-reading them all over cups of tea and have finally narrowed the pool to two finalists.

Both finalists will receive a prize, but we’ll leave the final decision - for first and second place - up to you, our readers. For the sake of fairness, we have left off the authors’ names. We hope you enjoy the summer stories, don’t forget to cast your vote in the poll below!

The California Vacation:
My parents loved taking us on extended trips to educate us during the holidays. When I was about 12 or 13, we went on a trip from Southern California and Nevada (very hot) all the way up the coast to chilly San Francisco. Of course, I brought yarn. I had a lovely grey fuzzy bulky but lightweight tweed yarn, with a contrast peach yarn that brought out the tweed shades. It would be a deep V-neck summer sweater. As we drove, the temperature got colder and colder. My mother is warm blooded, and insisted I wouldn’t need a jacket. Freezing, I knit faster and faster. Each morning, we’d awaken to colder temperatures and damp fog. I finished the entire sweater on that vacation. I wore it every day in Northern California. Now, over 20 years later, I am still cold thinking of fog and that insanely desperate knitting session.

Summer Knitting
Summer knitting gets me down
From May to September I’ll wear a frown.
Too hot for wool, then too cold for lace
Hurry up autumn, put a smile on my face.

Tried knitting outside but the flies made me fret.
Tried it by the pool but my yarn got wet.
I’ve done it at the airport - my needles were binned
(The way they looked at me you’d think I’d sinned!)

Once I was dumb enough to try it in the car,
Three kids and a husband - I didn’t get far.
Knitting at Sports Day or waiting at 3
I’ve tried them both but it’s just not for me.

Bring on September when the nights draw in,
You’ll find me on the sofa with a tonic and gin.
The days will get shorter but there’s plenty of time
To go back to knitting with chocolate and wine.

Room to spread my pattern
My yarn is clean and dry.
I don’t like Summer Knitting
Can you see why?

Happy knitting!

Poll closes 7pm (BST) Sunday 15 June.