October 20-24, 2025: Advanced Sprang Retreat with Carol James

Description

Instructor: Carol James

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Date: October 20-24, 2025

Location: 80 Bassett Road, Shelburne MA 01370

Cost: $1,100, includes instruction, studio time, materials, lunch Monday-Friday, dinner Thursday

Scholarships: Please email office@fabric-of-life.org for details

Lodging: Limited on-site lodging available, please email office@fabric-of-life.org for details

# Participants: 12

Equipment Required: Participants must bring their own sprang frame of at least 24 inches in length 18 inches width, safety strings, shed sticks

Prerequisite: Attendees must have completed an Introduction to Sprang course with Carol. 6-week courses are offered over ZOOM beginning March 20, 2025 and September 1, 2025. Please visit Carol’s website to register for Introduction to Sprang.

Program Description

Join Carol James for a 5 day retreat where you will explore the more advanced aspects of the reciprocal textile technique, Sprang. This technique is found throughout the world in different cultures and can be used to make almost anything from belts to bags to beautiful garments. Register now to expand your knowledge of this ancient technique.

About Carol James

Carol James has been exploring low-tech textile methods for 30 years. Her specialty is an ancient, almost forgotten technique called sprang. She has examined sprang items in collections across the US and Europe, and has made replicas of some well known pieces such as the Arizona Openwork Shirt and George Washington’s sash. She has also created modern garments deemed worthy of the Handweavers Guild of America fashion show. Carol has taught in Canada, the US, Europe, and New Zealand. Students describe her as patient, knowledgeable, and passionate. She spent her COVID time charting sprang lace designs and writing up patterns, and is author of numerous articles, the books Sprang Unsprung, Fingerweaving Untangled, six books of sprang lace patterns, and 2 instructional DVDs. Learn more about Carol on her website.

Please contact us with any questions at office@fabric-of-life.org.