A Week of Sprang

Explore sprang, an ancient technique for making a very elastic fabric in which every row of work yields two rows of cloth. Sprang–once practiced widely–was nearly lost to the machine age, found from Bronze Age Scandinavia to ancient Persia and now in Brasstown! Start on your prewarped frame learning the basic stitch and how to hold and manipulate the threads to create cloth. Explore variations, flat and circular warp, and discuss shaping techniques required to create unique garments. All levels welcome; no previous weaving experience required.

$60-$70

Carol James is a self-taught textile artist who explores the ancient and low-tech methods for cloth production known as fingerweaving and sprang. She has made replicas of historical items using this technique for clients including George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the German Archaeological Institute, the Norwegian Army Museum, and the Arizona State Museum. She has also made modern wearables, which were accepted by the HGA’s Convergence Fashion Show in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020. She teaches across Canada, the U.S., New Zealand, and Europe and is the author of four books: Fingerweaving Untangled, Sprang Unsprung, and two books of sprang lace patterns, as well as numerous articles.