Instruction and resources
if you are looking for instruction on finger weaving or sprang this is the page for you.
If you are wanting on-line and in-person classes, scroll down.
Here are some links to written instructions:
If you are wanting on-line and in-person classes, scroll down.
Here are some links to written instructions:
In person classes!
Keep checking in to see where Carol will be teaching in person.
Online Classes calendar of events!
We offer three different levels of classes:
- Level 1 classes are designed for beginners, people who have very little or no experience with sprang.
- Level 2 classes, also known as focussed study classes, are designed for students who have completed the beginner class, or are familiar with the basic interlinking stitch, and are comfortable setting up the frame.
- Level 3 classes art for advanced sprang practitioners, often there will be a level two prerequisite class listed with it.
Coming up on the SprangLady class schedule:
***So you work or will be asleep during the time the class is held? Not a problem. All classes are held on Zoom and are recorded, and posted to a special web page.
Level 1 Classes
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The class materials kit includes a frame, already set up and ready to go.
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Intro to Finger Weaving- online class- Tuesdays from 6-8pm (central time) November 4th to December 9th 2026
In this online zoom class students will learn the basics of finger weaving starting with a basic friendship bracelet and progressing through several different patterns and structures found in several French-Canadian and Métis finger woven sashes. The technique is great for those who want a low-tech, easily transportable method to create a dense, warp-faced structure, suitable for bags, belts, neckscarves, and straps. |
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IN PERSOn
LEVEL 2 CLASSES On line
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Sprang Lace: on-line class, in partnership with the Silicon Valley Lace Museum (prerequisite the 6-wk Intro to Sprang course) is scheduled for May 14, 21, and 28, of 2026. It's three sessions taking you through the various stitches used in sprang lace. We look seriously at pattern reading and show you how to create your own designs.
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Intermediate in-person Sprang class with Carol James
Join Carol for four days of help with your individualised sprang project at the IOLI conference in Durham, NC, July 19-24, 2026. Prerequisite completion of one of Carol's Intro to Sprang classes, and the sprang lace class. At the IOLI conference, Carol will also offer a 1-day class introducing you to interlacing. https://convention2025.internationalorganizationoflace.org/ |
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Coming soon! Self-directed level two classes!
LEVEL 3 CLASSES
(If there are any classes you were sad not to see please let us know, you are probably not the only person who has been asking this question and we might be able to put together a Classe focussing specifically on that topic.)
The Sprang Year-Long subscription
The year long subscription gives you a new sprang pattern on the first day of the month, for twelve months. You are invited to try out the pattern, and then make up a neck scarf (or hat or fingerless mittens). Each month you will be invited to a Zoom chat where you can ask questions and share experiences with sprangers from around the world.
The subscription works like a magazine subscription. Sign up for the current subscription, and you receive a new issue each month. If you sign up mid-year, you get the issues from January to today all at once, and then a once-a-month issue through the end of the year. Interested in a past subscription? Not a problem. The instructions from past years (2021 and 2022) subscriptions are available as a 12-month-all-at-once package.
No matter which year's subscription you order, you will be added to the list of people who are invited to the monthly Zoom meeting. Talk sprang with people from around the world. Your name will remain on that list until such a time as you ask us to remove your name from the list.
The subscription works like a magazine subscription. Sign up for the current subscription, and you receive a new issue each month. If you sign up mid-year, you get the issues from January to today all at once, and then a once-a-month issue through the end of the year. Interested in a past subscription? Not a problem. The instructions from past years (2021 and 2022) subscriptions are available as a 12-month-all-at-once package.
No matter which year's subscription you order, you will be added to the list of people who are invited to the monthly Zoom meeting. Talk sprang with people from around the world. Your name will remain on that list until such a time as you ask us to remove your name from the list.
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2021-exploring sprang structures
This is the content from the 2021 once-a-month subscription. Each month held an invitation to make a swatch using instructions for a different stitch. Join Carol and explore 12 different sprang structures. Make 12 neckscarfs, each exploring a different sprang stitch structure. This subscription also puts your name on the list for the Monthly Zoom meetings allowing you to talk with Carol as well as with others interested in sprang from around the world. The list of stitches includes basic interlinking, 1-1 interlacing, 2-2 interlacing horizontal ribs, 2-2 interlacing vertical ribs, ropes, slits, doubles grid, transpositions, S&Z, twining on interlinking, and the intertwining stitch.... a survey of the variety of sprang. |
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2022-Sprang Lace
The 2022 subscription gives you more than twelve different sprang lace patterns. This subscription offers the same patterns options as in 2021, a neckscarf, a pair of fingerless mittens or sprang hat. After making a sample of the sprang-lace-pattern-of-the month, you are welcome to make yourself a set of twelve scarves, or mittens, or hats, each in a different lace pattern. During testing of instructions for one of Carol's sprang lace books, one tester produced several squares that she put in her windows. We offer that as an option as well. The 2022 subscription pages include instructions on making the window squares, based on the patern-of-the month |
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2023-S&Z
The 2023 subscription focuses on surface design variations using the S-lean and the Z-lean of the interlinking stitch (S&Z patterns). S&Z patterns can create surprising texture in the cloth, including the appearance of a basket weave (July’s theme). By reversing the twists in the yarn, S&Z patterns can also create fabric that has less of a need to curl than simple interlinking. |
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2024 The Year of Twining
The 2024 subscription focuses on a very colourful surface design technique: twining on a background of interlinking. These motifs take inspiration from historic pieces, many of them bonnets from ancient Egypt. The technique uses a background of interlinking structure, the basic interlinking stitch. Then threads take off in pairs, wandering across the cloth, creating designs. We begin with patterns that simply move the twining pairs to the left, to the right, and then things become ever more interesting. The patterns were pilot-tested and where people had questions, we added videos and more instructions. |
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2025 The Year of Sweater
You know how to make a sprang scarf or shawl. How would you go about making other articles of sprang clothing? How would a person make a sprang shirt or sweater? Taking ideas from knitters, you might begin at the hem and work up to the neck, or you might begin at the neck and work towards the hem, or you might make several pieces and assemble them. That's the sort of thing we will do in The Year of the Sprang Sweater. We will explore diverse approaches to sprang shirts. It is NOT expected that you make twelve adult-sized garments. What we hope to do is to show you the basics of the different approaches. Each month we will give instructions for a doll (or child) sized garment. We encourage you to go through the steps as there are a great number of shaping and finishing techniques. Indeed those shaping and finishing techniques in themselves make this year's subscription quite valuable. Should you find yourself captivated by a particular approach to a garment, and feel motivated to try an adult size garment, we will include explanations how to scale up the approach. |
The 2025-Sweater-SprangLady Subscription - The Year of the Sprang Sweater
CA$120.00
2025 The Year of the Sprang Sweater (or shirt or vest) You know how to make a sprang scarf or shawl. How would you go about making other articles of sprang clothing? How would a person make a sprang shirt or sweater? Taking ideas from knitters, you might begin at the hem and work up to the neck, or you might begin at the neck and work towards the hem, or you might make several pieces and assemble them. That's the sort of thing we will do in The Year of the Sprang Sweater. We will explore diverse approaches to sprang shirts. It is NOT expected that you make twelve adult-sized garments. What we hope to do is to show you the basics of the different approaches. Each month we will give instructions for a doll (or child) sized garment. We encourage you to go through the steps as there are a great number of shaping and finishing techniques. Indeed those shaping and finishing techniques in themselves make this year's subscription quite valuable. Should you find yourself captivated by a particular approach to a garment, and feel motivated to try an adult size garment, we will include explanations how to scale up the approach. This subscription began early in COVID. My daughter noted that her friends could subscribe to monthly cross-stitch patterns or sock patterns or crochet patterns. She asked if perhaps there could be a monthly sprang pattern. The subscription works like a magazine. You get a new pattern each month. You can also order "back issues" and get previous issues all at once. While the 2021 subscription offered a peek into the variety of structures compatible with sprang, the 2022 subscription delved into sprang lace, and in 2023 we explored the possibilities with S&Z, in 2024 we looked at twining on a background of interlinking. Here is a preview of this year's subscription, the Year of the Sweater. Included in the subscription we will be available for a monthly sprang chat via Zoom, on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. There you can ask questions, and receive on-line support. You will also be able to meet others interested in sprang. The monthly Zoom chat will be arranged at different times of the day on a rotating cycle, to accommodate members in diverse time zones. For those of you who missed signing up in January ... this is not a problem. Even if you sign up, in, say, June, you will begin with access to all the previous information, January through June's structures ... but you will have missed out on 5 months of Zoom meetings. If you are comfortable with the basics of sprang, how to set up, how to work the basic stitches, how to read Carol's charts, and a finishing technique or two, then this subscription could be for you. Know that we will assume knowledge of -flat warp sprang -work at the top of the frame (gives you mirror-image cloth at the bottom of the frame.) -circular warp sprang (warp set up going all the way around the outside of the frame) -the interlinking stitch (looks like the structure seen in chain-link fence) -the interlacing stitch (looks like woven cloth) We will include brief written instructions on these and many related techniques as we get to them. You will find videos offering instructions on other shaping and finishing techniques. For those wanting more personalised help, we will be offering a classes on these techniques. |
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2026 The Year of Intertwining
The third structure that lends itself to the sprang technique, according to Peter Collingwood, is Intertwining. How does that work? What can you do with it? What variations are possible? This is the subject of exploration for 2026. Intertwining can be a very sturdy, dense structure. It can also be quite open. A number of things can be done when combining with color work. Join us for another year of exploration. |
The 2026-Intertwining-SprangLady Subscription
CA$120.00
The SprangLady Subscription-2026 Intertwining Intertwining is a structure that lends itself to the sprang technique, where threads each have a dedicated partner. Threads travel across the structure in pairs. This can result in an openwork structure. It can also result in a very dense structure. Some of the variations are quite stretchy, others are firm and solid. A wide variety of color work designs are also possible. This subscription series began early in COVID. My daughter noted that her friends could subscribe to monthly cross-stitch patterns or sock patterns or crochet patterns. She asked if perhaps there could be a monthly sprang pattern. The subscription works like a magazine. You get access to a new web page each month, containing patterns, instructions, and often videos. You can also order "back issues" and get previous issues all at once. You will continue to have access to the information for as long as my website is on the internet. While the 2021 subscription offered a peek into the variety of structures compatible with sprang, the 2022 subscription delved into sprang lace, and in 2023 we explored the possibilities with S&Z. In 2024 we looked at twining on a background of interlinking. In 2025 we looked at garment making, and the various ways sprang can be shaped. The 2025 Subscription will explore intertwining structures. Preparing for this year's series we've delved back into Peter Collingwood's book, and also into Mary Frame's research into South American pieces. We've been astonished at the rich variety, and hope you, too are delighted. Here is a preview of this year's subscription. Included in the subscription is a monthly sprang chat via Zoom, on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. There you can ask questions, and receive on-line support. You will also be able to meet others interested in sprang. The monthly Zoom chat will be arranged at different times of the day on a rotating cycle, to accommodate members in diverse time zones. For those of you who missed signing up in January ... this is not a problem. Even if you sign up, in, say, June, you will begin with access to all the previous information, January through June's structures ... but you will have missed out on 5 months of Zoom meetings. If you are comfortable with the basics of sprang, how to set up, how to work the basic stitches, how to read Carol's charts, and a finishing technique or two, then this subscription could be for you. Know that we will assume knowledge of -flat warp sprang -work at the top of the frame (gives you mirror-image cloth at the bottom of the frame.) -circular warp sprang (warp set up going all the way around the outside of the frame) -the interlinking stitch (looks like the structure seen in chain-link fence) -the interlacing stitch (looks like woven cloth) We will include brief written instructions on these and many related techniques as we get to them. You will find videos offering instructions on other shaping and finishing techniques. For those wanting more personalised help, we will be offering a classes on these techniques. |