I can't believe how quickly people have ditched their WIPs and cast on for Alex! The knitalong thread in our Ravelry group is already buzzing with excitement. If you're new to posting in our group, please do feel free to just drop in and share your progress. We're a very chatty bunch, but there's no obligation to wade through all the posts in any of the threads, just dive in and say hi!

We are always very happy to answer questions about any aspect of your knitting, and the wealth of experience and knowledge in our group is extraordinary - group membership now stands at 1,260 so wherever you are in the world, someone will be awake and on hand to encourage you along!

This month's knitalong is for the pinhole cast on. Simply work on a project that uses a pinhole cast on (aka Emily Ocker's cast on or the circular cast on), and tag your Ravelry project page with AYearofTechniques, then post a photo of your project in progress to the knitalong thread, and you are entered for a prize. There's no obligation to finish your project (although we do love seeing finished projects!), as it's the taking part that matters. This was a constant source of comfort to my pre-teen, incredibly unsporty, always-on-the-losing-side-self, so it's a maxim that I hold dear! And finally, while it's completely wonderful to see lots of projects from A Year of Techniques, you can also work on any project featuring a pinhole cast on. The more the merrier!

Don't forget to watch my video tutorial for the Pinhole Cast On, which you can find over on Mason-Dixon Knitting.

Prizes!

I'm thrilled that Ella Austin has kindly donated one of the kits from her Etsy shop to one lucky knitter this month. And you could also win one of three single pattern download codes from her Ravelry Store. Ella's kits are absolutely exquisite. Choose from one of her adorable toys, like the Intrepid Fox or Tawny Owl, or her fine colourwork accessories such as the Bunty Mitts or Leighton House Handwarmers. I think it would be pretty hard to cast on for these, as the kits themselves are so beautifully produced!

The months are flying by, aren't they? I can't believe this is the final Spring project already. But at the same time, there are still so many incredible designs to come too. Do pop over to our Ravelry group or The Lounge and share your progress. I can't wait to see how everyone gets on with their pinhole projects!