While filming a video on how to set up your warp to create horizontal stripes in sprang, I started playing around with what other color set ups I could make with that same warp. I love switching around colors and seeing what happens, especially when braiding and sprang is quite similar to braiding. I'm excited to try out some of these patterns on a top or bag, in the meantime, I've photographed the different color set ups I tried out.
Setting up the Warp
All of these pattern use the same warp set up; one wrap of color A and one wrap of color B. Warping can be done by tying on and wrapping both colors around the dowels at the same time, or you can warp on one color, then add the second color. I go over this a little bit in the video below. This color set up means that there is one front thread of color A and one back thread of color A, then one front thread of color B and one back thread of color B.
Below, I show the different patterns that you get from rearranging the warp threads into different configurations. Note that the way I have them named is based on the sequence of the front threads only. So AABB, means there are two front threads of color A and two front threads of color B. In all the patterns I photographed, I arranged the threads so that the back threads are the opposite of the front. So for AABB the back threads would be two threads of color B and two threads of color A.
Horizontal Stripes
Horizontal stripes are created by moving all of color A to the front and all of color B to the back.
You will need to hold this new color set up on a shed stick to keep clear on what threads go where.
Below is a video on how to create this color set up.
Once you understand the concept of moving the threads around and placing them on a shed stick, you can create quite a few color patterns from the same warp.
AABB Color Set Up
AAAB Color Set Up
AAABB Color Set Up
AAAAB Color Set Up
I also played around with what this two color warp set up looks like when worked in techniques other then basic interlinking.
S/Z Pattern
When worked without changing the sequence of threads, this two color warp will make a pattern of jagged slants.
If you change from S to Z twist you will get an interesting effect where the slant changes direction.
Changing the twist every couple of rows would likely result in a chevron color pattern.
Interlacing
Interlacing usually creates diagonal color patterns across the whole warp. I didn't continue this warp very far, so I am uncertain how the threads would behave after more rows.
It looks like first yellow and first blue to hit the outer edges and turn back the other direction did not follow the original color pattern of AB.
I'll have to play around with this some more and see what happens.
Intertwining
Finally, I tested out intertwining. Although I did already know what was going to happen when intertwining this particular color pattern.
After this point the blue would be the threads at the back and the yellow the threads in front and eventually they would swap places again.
The direction of intertwining can also be changed similarly to the change of S-twist and Z-twist, so that opens up more color pattern possibilities.
There are so many fun color patterns and options within sprang, so don't be shy to try out something, even if you are not sure what it will do! The fun is in the adventure!
Happy Crafting!
Jaime