Instruction and resources
if you are looking for instruction on finger weaving or sprang this is the page for you
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 2022 SprangLady class schedule:
Level 1 Classes |
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Intro to Sprang Class Zoom Class:(Level 1) Six Wednesdays: October 27 to November 1, 2-4 PM.
What's sprang? How does it work? Start at the beginning ... with a frame already set up. This class guides you in an exploration of the basics of sprang. We focus on the interlinking stitch which results in very stretchy cloth. The step-by-step approach makes it easy. Learn to set up your frame, flat warp and circular warp, a number of surface design possibilities, and a variety of finishing techniques. Make bags, hats, mittens and more. Instruction will be available by Zoom, and each class will be recorded so you can watch over and over. PDF instruction sheets will be available on a specially dedicated web page for you to peruse, as well as additional videos. Each week's instruction builds on what we covered last week. Optional homework assignments help you to practice and better master the technique. |
LEVEL 2 CLASSES |
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S&Z SprangAlong : (Level 2) Form January 1st on!
Each month will introduce a new pattern or three (a total of 24 patterns) for you to practice and play with. We start with an introduction to S&Z, move from simple to more complex patterns found in sprang bonnets from 4th - 8th century Egypt, and then into some more recent patterns suggested by Peter Collingwood in The Techniques of Sprang (1974). The patterns in this year's subscription were created by Sharon Wichman. Read about her passion for S & Z textures. Thank you so much for your hard work on this Sharon! |
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False Circular Warp Zoom Class: (Level 2) Monday, May 15th, 3pm-5pm (Winnipeg Time)
False circular warp allows you to work on a warp that is almost twice the length of your frame. During the two hour workshop you will learn the easy way to set it up, tips for working with this setup, and guidelines to help you decide if your project is suitable for it. To take this workshop you will need to be comfortable with the basic interlinking technique described in Sprang Unsprung. You will also need to have your own frame, yarn etc. |
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Intro to Twining Class Zoom Class: (Level 2) Two Mondays, June 12 and 19 2023 2-4pm(Winnipeg Time)
Twining is a very interesting technique that can be worked on a background of interlinking sprang. In this two hour focus class, Carol will show you the basic Twining stitch, as well as how she notates the Twining stitch in her patterns. This class is designed for intermediate Sprangers already familiar with the interlinking stitch and who are comfortable setting up a frame with multiple colors (instructions for warp setup will be sent prior to class time). This class is the prerequisite for the double cloth class. |
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Stripes on the circular warp class: (level 2) Monday Sept 18 12-2pm (Winnipeg time)
Circular warp has some special rules when adding colors to the warp. During this two-hour workshop we will discuss some of the surprising things that can happen, and different ways to manage contrasting colors of yarn within circular warp. |
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Introduction to S&Z: (Level 2) This class will take place on zoom Monday Oct 23 and 30, 2pm to 4pm 2023 (Winnipeg time)
During this two part workshop you will learn to switch between S and Z stitches along the same row. As an example of this type of work, Carol will guide you through a lovely diamond pattern. |
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Charting S&Z:(Level 2)This class will take place on Zoom Wednesday, November 8, 2023 from 2-4pm (Winnipeg Time)
How do Carol's charts apply to patterns in S&Z? How might a person predict the movement of colored threads across an interlaced structure? How does one decide on the location of the transition stitches, and which ones will be worked on front threads, which stitches to be worked on back threads? The goal of this class is to reveal the rules and demystify the process. |
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False circular warp, set up an workings: (Level 2) This class will take place on zoom Monday Nov 20 , 2022 at 2:00pm (Winnipeg Time)
False circular warp allows you to work on a warp that is almost twice the length of your frame. During the two hour workshop you will learn the easy way to set it up, tips for working with this setup, and guidelines to help you decide if your project is suitable for it. To take this workshop you will need to be comfortable with the basic interlinking technique described in Sprang Unsprung. You will also need to have your own frame, yarn etc. |
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Lace Class Zoom Class: (Level 2) Three Wednesdays, November 29, December 6 and 13, 2-4pm (Winnipeg Time)
This class will focus on making holes in the cloth with the use of the right and left edge stitch. We will explore some other lace stitches including the double stitch, the rope stitch, and the "un-worked thread" stitch. Carol will help you to read her pattern notations for each of these stitches. There will be exercises designed to help you derive a pattern from a photo of sprang, and show you ways to create your own patterns. |
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Introduction to twining:(Level 2) This 2 part class will take place on Zoom Monday, Dec 4 and 11th at 2pm (Winnipeg Time)
Twining is a very interesting technique that can be worked on a background of interlinking sprang. In this two hour focus class, Carol will show you the basic Twining stitch, as well as how she notates the Twining stitch in her patterns. This class is designed for intermediate Sprangers already familiar with the interlinking stitch and who are comfortable setting up a frame with multiple colors (instructions for warp setup will be sent prior to class time). This class is the prerequisite for the double cloth class. |
LEVEL 3 CLASSES |
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Double cloth Zoom Class- (Level 3)Monday June 26 2023 2-4pm (Winnipeg Time)
This class has for pre-requisite the Intro to Twining Class Zoom Class Please make sure you have familiar rise yourself with that class first. This class will show you how to create a two-layer piece of cloth using the interlinking stitch. While the description and instructions might seem to be complicated, really it’s a very simple, straight-forward set of movements. You will create a piece of cloth using two colors of thread. One color of thread will be on the front side of the cloth, the other color of thread will be on the back side of the cloth. The double cloth technique opens up a new world for design possibilities. Create designs stitch by stitch, choosing which color of thread comes to the front. You will leave the other color of thread at the back of the cloth. Resulting cloth will have your design on the front of the cloth and the reverse design on the back side of the cloth. |
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.
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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 instructions from past years (2021 and 2022) subscriptions are available as a 12-month-all-at-once package. 2021-exporing 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. 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 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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Taproot video is an online paid resource where you can learn all sorts of various crafts. Carol uses this resource to provide you access to on-line streaming of her DVDs and digital versions of her books.
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A group of fingerweavers meets regularly in Carol's hometown, to share ideas and weave together.
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