“Bishops and Rooks” is the fourth pattern release from The Chess Set of double-knitting patterns. You can knit hot pads or coasters with these patterns, or you can use the charts to embellish larger projects.

Other patterns in The Chess Set (To celebrate to release of the pattern bundle, “Knights!” is now free with the purchase of the bundle.):

• “Kings and Queens - The Royal Couples”
• “Knights! - Champions of Honor”
• “Pawns! Attack… or Defend?” (additional free pattern from the bundle!)

Size estimates for some suggested yarns and needle sizes:

• worsted-weight yarn, at a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows in 4 inches (about 5.25 st/in and about 7.5 rows/in), with U.S. size 3 (3.25 mm) or 4 (3.50 mm) needles will produce a hot pad measuring about 6 ¼ inches square. suggested yarns – Hobby Lobby “I Love this Cotton” (100% Cotton) Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (100% Wool)

• fingering-weight yarn, at a gauge of 30 stitches and 38 rows in 4 inches (about 7.5 st/in and 9.5 rows/in), with U.S. size 0 (2.00 mm) or 1 (2.25 mm) needles will produce a coaster measuring about 4 ½ inches square. suggested yarn – Cascade Heritage (75% Wool, 25% Nylon)

My test-knit samples used about 33 yards (about 30 meters) of the dark and and about 33 yards (about 30 meters) of the light color for each hot-pad. This was less than 1/2 skein of each color for both hot-pads.

Choose 100% cotton or wool yarns to make your Chess Set squares heat-resistant and moisture-absorbing.

Knitters have many techniques for casting on, binding off, and finishing edges in double-knitting. The Double-Knitting Group, here on Ravelry, is a helpful resource of ideas.

My worsted-weight samples used sockmatician’s “Two-Colour, Alternating Long-Tail Cast On for Double Knitting” and “Slip-Stitch Edges for Double-Knitting.”

I like combination knitting to help achieve even double-knitting tension. Ellen, “The Chilly Dog,” has a fantastic article and video on combination knitting that explains why you would want to use the technique and shows how to do combination knitting for both English-style and continental-style knitters.

Gauge is not critical for this project, but I usually use needles about two to three sizes smaller than I would normally use when knitting with a particular yarn. For the sample shown in the photos, in worsted-weight “I Love this Cotton!,” I used U.S. size 3 (3.25 mm) needles. (I use one or two sizes smaller to cast on for double knitting.)

A long-tail cast-on creates a row of stitches. This row is not shown at the bottom of the charts. Row 1 follows the long-tail cast-on. Row 46, at the top of the charts, adds an additional row of knitting past the square design of the charts, to balance the row created below Row 1, with the long-tail cast-on.

I prefer to use separate charts for the front and back. Both charts for the “Bishop” and “Rook” are included in this pattern (four charts are included). I print out both charts for each pattern and put them back-to-back in clear plastic page protectors. When I’m knitting I look at the chart that matches the side I’m working on. I read the charts from right to left, flipping the chart over when I finish each row. Knitters who prefer to use a single chart may wish to print out only the first, dark-on-light, chart.

My pictured sample uses Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Sewn Bind-off, as described at the end of Knitty’s Summer 2006 “Techniques with Theresa” feature, on binding off in knitting.

This “Bishops and Rooks - Shields of the Realm” double-knitting pattern is available for immediate download in my Ravelry store. You may use the pattern to knit for yourself, for charity, or for sale (please credit Janet Bailey Designs for the pattern). You may not sell the pattern or give it away. Thank you for supporting my designs!

I hope you enjoy knitting and using your “Bishops and Rooks” and I would love to see your project photos here on Ravelry!