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How to Sew a Chess Board

Chess is an ancient game that is believed to have originated in India or Afghanistan around 600 A.D. From this game, many variations developed. The set design that we associate with today's game of chess was developed in England in the 19th century by a chess master named Staunton. Chess sets in this Staunton design are now used in tournaments all over the world. Today, chess boards are often seen made of wood or plastic, but soft boards of leather or canvas are also traditional. You can make your own chess board out of any fabric you choose and design it to fit your personal taste. This project can make a unique gift or heirloom.

Things You'll Need

Pencil
Paper
Ruler
Fabric, two different colors
Fabric scissors
Needle
Thread
Seam tape

Instructions

- 1
  Cut your fabric into 2-by-2-inch squares after you measured it and drawn it off with a pencil a ruler. You will need 32 squares of each of your two colors.
- 2
  Cut four strips of fabric 2 inches wide. Two of those strips should be 20 inches long and two will be 16 inches long. These strips will become the border.
- 3
  Place your border on the backing fabric and pin in place.
- 4
  Arrange your squares, alternating colors, on the backing fabric and pin in place. Each row will contain eight squares.
- 5
  Sew your squares and border onto the backing using a cross stitch.
- 6
  Apply seam tape to strengthen the edges of the board and to avoid unraveling.
- 7
  Decorate your board with embroidery or fabric paint.

Chess & Checkers