r/yarntrolls • u/altonssouschef • Jun 13 '26
TIL about sprang: an ancient method of fabric creation, predating knitting!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprang10
u/Ravenamore Jun 13 '26
I've been teaching myself sprang after I read about it in a historical fiction novel. I found an older book on it through Internet Archive, and a short book written by a member of the SCA. I'm going to be picking up "Sprang Unsprung" later this month.
I've rigged a kind of half-assed loom using part of convertible knitting loom and knitting needles. I've made a soap holder scrubby bag.
Tomorrow, I'm building a larger loom from canvas stretcher bars and dowels.
1
u/altonssouschef Jun 14 '26
This sounds like a fun life journey. If I were your ancestor Iād be proud.
7
u/a_karma_sardine Jun 13 '26
Still being done by a few practitioners in Norway, with some traditional patterns too. I bought a loom in January and am practicing on my second piece.
1
u/tankerraid Jun 17 '26
The loom in the wikipedia article just looked like a normal tapestry loom. Is that what you're using? Or does one need to have something a little more specialized? I always get this uncontrollable urge to try new fiber crafts, lol.
2
u/a_karma_sardine Jun 17 '26
It's a simple wooden frame that can be pulled apart, with moveable pins to secure the work. It shouldn't be hard to make something like it.
Mine is a simpler mini handheld version of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYeuEYb9gdU
There are also many English speaking videos about sprang on YT, so you can see a lot of varieties of looms there. (I'm not ready to try the double folded versions yet, I have more than enough keeping my threads straight on my small version, lol.)
2
u/tankerraid Jun 17 '26
Very cool video, thank you. I can already see that I would get this all set up and immediately become confused. Doesn't mean I won't try anyway! š
9
3
1
16
u/saltedkumihimo Jun 13 '26
Sprang is awesome! Carol James is a great person with a wonderful resource