2020-01-29

Cast on for “Rooks” yesterday evening, using sockmatician’s Two-Colour, Alternating Long-Tail Cast On.“ I used smaller needles (U.S. 2, 2.75 mm) to cast on and work the first two rows, for a neater edge with minimal flare.

I’ve gone back to using sockmatician’s “Two-Colour, Alternating Long Tail Cast On” because it is easy and fun to do (with practice) and I like how it looks for edging these Chess patterns, and I’m using sockmatician’s “Slip-Stitch Edges for Double-Knitting,” as I have for the other hot pads in this series from the Chess Set.

I finished the 17th Row of 46 (37%) from “Rooks” this morning. My goal is to complete “Rooks” today and begin “Bishops” tomorrow, so that I can post the final set of designs from the Chess Set, to include these four:

Kings and Queens - The Royal Couples
“Bishops and Rooks - Shields of the Realm”
“Knights! - Champions of Honor”
“Pawns! Attack… or Defend?” (free pattern)

2020-01-31

I’m a little behind on my goal for finishing the two “Bishops and Rooks” test-knits. I just finished Row 29 of the “Rooks” (67%) and hope to finish and bind off early today so that I can cast on for “Bishops” this evening. Maybe I can still finish “Bishops” tomorrow and release the pattern on Sunday for Groundhog Day.

Had a bit of a problem that required setting “life-lines” to go back several rows. I had made a small error in the color of three stitches. Instead of just “tinking” back, I decided to correct the errors by dropping down the columns - usually not a problem, but this time I somehow tangled the yarns and could not sort it out.

By the time I realized the error was growing worse, I could not be sure how many rows were involved. To be safe, I inserted two “life lines” (actually 7” 2.25 mm double-pointed needles) on each side, three rows below the original error. Then I unraveled to the dpns and put the stitches from the two dpns back on my 3.25 mm needle.

I’m back on track now and have finished Row 32 of 46 (70%) of the “Rooks.”

2020-02-01

Finished “Rooks” and have cast on and completed five rows from the “Bishops” chart. It looks like my Groundhog Day goal is within reach!

2020-02-02

I thought through the changes I wanted for the “Bishops” chart and tried several adjustments before settling on Version 2. Originally, the “Bishops” lacked distinctness, even with their mitered caps, looking too much like “Queens” or “Pawns.” Their “shoulder caps” seemed out of character, so I started thinking about “crosiers,” the staves carried by bishops to show their roles as shepherd-leaders. My first attempts to add staves to only one side of the pieces made them unbalanced, so I settled on a hint of a “crosier” on both sides of the piece.

Just knitted Row 22 of 46 (48%) and hoping to finish and get photos this afternoon so that I can release “Bishops and Rooks” this evening.

Well, it’s definitely Groundhog Day. I finished knitting “Bishops” and decided I didn’t like the “busy-ness” of the design. I increased the slope on the mitered hat and simplified the design. Next, I’ll set life-lines on both sides and unravel to Row 21. It looks like I’ll have to wait to release the pattern until tomorrow.

2020-02-03

I’ve knitted the new “Bishops” design, Rows 22 - 45. I like the increased slope on the mitered hat and I’m satisfied, now, that “Bishops” is distinct from all the other designs. When I get the sewn bind-off finished, I’ll take the photos for this project page and for the pattern pdf.