Welcome to the 2023
Sprang Lace Challenge
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Welcome to an ordered set of twelve sprang patterns using the difference between the Z-lean and the S-lean of the interlinking stitch.

This year is intended as a celebration of the variety of possibilities for S and Z patterns. Each month you will receive a new pattern (or set of patterns). We begin by playing with full rows of Z followed by one or more full row(s) of S, and then we explore the use of the different stitch-leans within the same row.

Surface designs created by this play with stitch lean have surprising texture. Many of them create a 3D effect, and we were quite surprised by some of them ... hope you, too, will be delighted. We will post photos, but for some of these you will really need to touch them to fully appreciate. 

We encourage you to begin by making a small sample of each month's pattern(s) to become familiar with the instructions.  Once you have made the sample, and are comfortable with the S&Z motif, you might consider applying the motif-of-the month to a more practical piece: a Mobius neckscarf, fingerless mittens, or a tam, using the patterns listed below.

Those of you who have not taken Carol's introductory classes may be surprised by the manner in which we chart sprang structures and indicate patterns. We do things differently from the way Peter Collingwood charted, and hope you find them easy enough to understand. 

Sharon Wichman is our guest pattern maker for this year. She has been working with Carol on a variety of projects over the past two years. Sharon has been particularly captivated by the variety of patterns she can create using S&Z in interlinking sprang. Sharon has created this year's explanations of the various S&Z motifs, and the photos you will see are all Sharon's work.  For more of Sharon's work see https://sprangart.weebly.com.

Scrolling down to the bottom of this page you will find several videos and instruction sheets, information that people have found helpful on a number of sprang-related topics.
Here is the list of the monthly S&Z patterns. New links will be activated each month. 

An introduction to working rows of S-leaning and Z-leaning stitches. And an invitation to play with the interlacing that occurs when transitioning from Z to S and back again.
Introduces switching between S&Z in the middle of the row to form diamonds of S on a background of Z.
Diamonds within diamonds, and an invitation to go big. Inspired by 4th century Egyptian pieces in the Kelsey Museum collection.
Vertical stripes of S&Z can be used alone or at the edges of stacked diamonds. Inspired by 4th century Egyptian pieces in the Kelsey Museum collection.
Diagonals and Chevrons. Inspired by 4th century pieces found in Egypt and housed in the Kelsey Museum.
Theme and Variations: Examining ways to combine four diamonds into one larger diamond. Inspired by a 5th - 8th century piece found in Egypt and currently housed in the British Museum.
Theme and Variations: Basket Weave. Inspired by 4th - 8th century pieces in the British Museum and Kelsey Museum collections.
Basket Weave in a large diamond. Inspired by  century pieces found in Egypt and housed in the Kelsey Museum.
Tessellated Nested Diamonds. Inspired by 4th century pieces found in Egypt and housed in the Kelsey Museum.
Undulating Blocks. An unexpected texture suggested by Peter Collingwood in The Techniques of Sprang.
Raised Diamonds. Arranging S- & Z-leans so that all edges of the diamond are raised above the background cloth, a motif suggested by Peter Collingwood in The Techniques of Sprang.
A unique texture that forms a funky pattern when created with alternating colors of yarn. Inspired by a design created by Abraham de Miranda and discussed by Peter Collingwood in The Techniques of Sprang.

Virtual meet up

I look forward to sharing information with you, and accompanying you in your explorations of sprang. I will be available for a monthy sprang chat via Zoom, on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. There you are welcome to ask me questions, and receive on-line support. You will also be able to meet others who are interested in sprang.


The monthly Zoom meeting was originally intended as a question-and-answer, for those working through the patterns. What has happened is, that we start the meeting by asking if anyone has a question. Often what follows is a fascinating discussion of the current sprang structure. When silence follows, the moderator asks participants, one by one, to talk about where he/she is at, what you are working on, your challenges and successes, a bit of show-and-tell. A variety of questions, tips, and insights generally follows.
Join the Facebook private group  here to share your trials and tribulations and your successes too.

Over the years, Carol has put together several helpful videos and tutorials that will help and inspire you to make a variety of items.