The technique; how it works

Here you find a explanation of how the technique sprang works. There are many different paterns one could make but below you find the most simple form of sprang.

The threads are seperated in two layers.
The threads from one layer are twisted around the threads of the other layer. This makes it a breading technique and not a weaving technique, for you only work with threads that run in one direction. All the threads are fixed on both ends. This means that if you twist the treads, the twist will apear above and below your hands. You are working towards the middle from both ends at the same time. The finishing in the middle of the sprang is a solid evidence that it is indeed a sprangwork and not a different braiding technique.

At the bottum of this page you can find a list of books and links on sprang as well as a number of films of Blue demonstrating different aspects of this technique.

Step 1

The first step it to attach you thread to the wire or rod. The thread goes over the top rod and back down on the backside of your work.

Step 1a

It then goes underneath the lowerrod and back up again.
You continue this untill you have the amount of threads you want. Make sure you have an equal number of threads on the back and on the front of your work.

Step 2

Attach the end of the thread to the bottom rod. Now you have reached the point where you can start the actual braiding.
A small stick or safety thread is placed in between the two layers. Now if you want to remove your hand from your work, you can do so safely. Otherwise you will  have a very hard time keeping track of which treads belong in which layer.

Step 3

Take up the first thread from the bottom layer and move it to the top, using your indexfinger.

Step 4

With the same finger you can push the first thread from the toplayer to the bottom layer.

Step 5

Then the second bottom thread is moved to the top layer and so on.

Step 6

When you finished yuor first row, it looks like this. Don't forget to move the twist down since your work will appear on both ends of the braid.

Step 7

When you start the second row, you do so by moving the first 2 threads of the bottom layer to the top. Then you go on to the first thread of the top layer, moving this to the bottum layer. You continue moving 1 thread at the time.

Step 8

Becouse you started with 2 threads, you end with 2 threads aswell. Every second row is started with picking up 2 treads instead of 1. This means that with every other row, the threads move one place and then move back to there original position as the next row is started with 1 thread.

Step 9

After finishing each row, you push the twist down.
Slowly the two ends of the braid will grow towards the middle.
When you can not add any more rows, it is time to finish your work in the middle of the braid. This is caracteristic for the sprang technique.

Step 10

Finishing your work is very simple.Using a hooked needle you pick up the first thread of the bottom layer and make it into a loop. Then take the first thread of the top layer and pull it through the first loop.

Step 11

Here the first thread of the top layer is pulled through the first loop. You do this with every thread, first one of the bottom layer, then one of the top layer.

Step 12

You continue this untill you have reached the other side. It is a matter of crochet hence the crochet needle.

Step 12

A small thread is pulled through the last loop and a simple knot is made. The ends of the small thread are usualy hidden in the finishing line of the braid.

Films

Two ways of warping your treads, the ofiicial way and Blue's own way of warping.

The Z-twist and the S-twist

Warping in two colours and its patern possibilities.

A Patern of holes

Making a flower with 4 peddles

Making a diagonalpatern

Books on sprang

There aren't a lot of books on the subject but if you want to know more about sprang, I can recomment one of the following books:.

Sprang, egyptisch vlechten by Fenny Nijman.

Sprang, een oude vlechttechniek by Tine Abrahamsson.

Egyptisch vlechtwerk by E Siewertsz van Reezema.

But above all: The techniques of sprang van Peter Collingwood

Some of these books like Fenny Nijman's arn't very hard to find, others are very rare. If you are looking for a specific titel but can not find it, send me an email. Maybe I can help...

Links

Here some links to sites with usefull information on sprang.

Phiala's String Page

Regia Anglorum

Santacruzhandweavers Anne Blinks Textile Study Collection of Sprang and Bronze-age replicas

Sprang Weave Hammock Fabrication

Thora Sharptooth's Early Sprang Bibliography A graet list of boook, most are very hard to find though...

Braiding Technique Directory 2008, A lot of links

Ellen Shipley Personal Blog. Blue loves her caps!

Interview met Peter Collingwood

There is even a great wikipedia page on sprang