Starting
a new Sprang project for Weavolution's "Halloweave" challenge. My first
challenge is to unsnarl the start of this cotton yarn. I'm planning to
make a small bag and the only time I can make for this is during my
commute to work.
I'm
using a small booklet to wind my yarn in kind of a figure 8 pattern.
See the new book by Carol James titled "Sprang Unsprung." Sprang as
traditionally taught is done on a continuous looped warp. But in Carol's
book, the first thing we learn is that sprang can be done with free
ends. That makes my project possible on the train/bus/train routine of
my daily commute!
At
work during lunch break I cut one side of the V shape loops. This gives
me yarn ends that are roughly twice as long as the booklet. Which is
the size I wanted for the bag.
Using
the Sugar and Creme self striped dyed yarn allows me to work with
stripes in shades that mix well with each other. That cardboard on left
is my frame for this work. I'll loop a string around it to hold my
sprang.
Here
I have hung the yarn on the header string. The cardboard frame is 4
layers of 8-1/2 by 11 inch card stock (thick) that I taped together. I
also cut some narrow strips of cardboard to help keep the different rows
of sprang separate. See the "safety string" that gets pulled through as
I work to help keep the rows separate.
Back on the bus, all the elements are in place. And now the goal is make a bag out of plain sprang. More to follow later.Have a good day!
Here is my sprang. I used a plastic bag to contain it when I put it away
in my commute bag. Or man purse, whatever. I notice that the cardboard
strip is going to make the first row too "loopy" when I finish.
So I take out the strip and un-sprang what I did. Then tighten up the strings up to the header string. It looks a lot better.
I started using string as space holders. I may regret using such a tight weave, but for now I like the look better.
I got a few more rows done today. I've had to un-sprang a row a couple
of times. I'm learning to spot problems sooner and unsprang less.
I started untangling the loose ends. The area on the right has been
untangled but look at the left side. See the mirror image of the sprang
below the top rows. Looks like sprang.
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Here is the current state of the sprang this morning. Working my way down the strings. It's about 20 rows so far so I probably have 40 more rows to go. But the work is progressing.
-
A closer view. I am using safety strings to hold the row spacing. I have
the safety strings anchored with lark's head knot to a holding string on
the right side. I tie the left side ends of the safety strings with
slip knots. There is ten rows held in position by string. I pull the
safety strings from the top and move down the holding string. The
strings are very important to keep the rows intact since I put the piece
into a plastic bag and then jam it into my commuter bag for travel.
Above the strings is the sprang web, holding shape nicely.
-
Here I am stretching the sprang web a little bit so you can see the
structure of the mesh. I'm trying to work patiently for the best
possible result on this piece. I can getting faster. A row takes about
fifteen minutes now. There are no shortcuts to this simple process. It
must be perfect or there will be holes in the web.
Patience comes to those who wait.
Have a good day!
Sprang close up: Moving from right hand toward left hand, reach across to the next string in the back row and pull it forward.
Note: The white strings along the right hand side and running horizontally through the piece are the safety strings. The strings keep the work from unworking itself and helps establish even spacing. Using strings of different thickness can adjust the spacing. Sticks are often used in traditional sprang to hold the twist and patterns. The strings and sticks are pulled out as work progresses and are not part of the finished piece.
Moving from right hand toward left hand, reach across to the back row and pull it forward. Put finger where the two threads cross.
This picture shows the progression from the right side and how the threads cross. When I'm done working a section, I'll pull a safety string to hold that crossing point of the threads. That point is usually referred to as "the cross" by weavers and fiber artists.
Moving from right hand toward left hand, reach across to the back row and pull it forward. Put finger where the two threads cross. See how the front and back threads are held separated by fingers. Keeping the strings in line and under some tension is important to proper interlinking. I work in sections of however much my fingers can hold at one time.
You can see some more of the structure in this picture. Moving from right hand toward left hand, reach across to the back row and pull it forward.
Put finger where the two threads cross.
Repeat until satisfied.
You can read more about sprang in the new book "Sprang Unsprung" by Carol James
(shameless promotion of my friend's book)
Have a good day!
Bravo, bravo, bravo! to you and to Carol. I am going to buy this book.
( And you can ask for the commission for the sale!). I like your proyect, not only for the sprang, you are a revolutionary of the art of weaving. Weave on every place, with every materials.
Above
we have the current unsprang (plain interlinking). Size is about 8 inch
wide by 11 inch long (20cm x 27cm). This is about half as long as I
hoped. There was a lot of shrinkage to the threads. Some threads are
very short from being pulled unevenly over the top thread, leaving one
end long and one end short, so I have to stop here.
I
think I'll fold it over to make a long narrow bag. I'll tie off the
bottom, sew up the side, and use a drawstring to close the top. The bag
will stretch sideways.
I am knotting the bottom with overhand knots. I'm trying to one thread from each side of the bag.
Then I noticed the FLOATS! See the long diagonal threads? These were on
the backside of the piece as I did the interlinking so I did not notice
them. As a thread got pushed out of line and grabbed into another line
the mistake occurs but was unnoticed by me. These long threads out of
line in with the others are called "floats" in weaving and are often
part of the design.
Okay, I already have a bunch of knots done. I will finish the knots,
trim the strings, sew up the side and turn the piece inside out so the
better side is showing outside. The knots will be inside and unseen.
Okay. I'll have to do better on the next one. Got to finish this one first.
Have a good day!
Bag is finished. A braid for drawstring. Bottom is kind of rough with
the knots, I may sew it up another row to make it even. Bag is stuffed
with a plastic bag for the picture.Otherwise, not bad.Have a good day!
Here is the bag flat, about 4 inch wide by 10 inch long.
Stuffed with plastic bags you see how the bag expands in width and the mesh opens up somewhat.
Have a good day!
Here is my current project
http://weavolution.com/group/sprang-twis...
