The compass for sprites uses the paths defined in config.rb.
So, if you have this structure:
+ web
+ sass
- icons.scss
+ images
+ icons
- icon1.png
+ config.rb
As config.rbyou should have something like:
...
images_dir = "images"
sass_dir = "sass"
...
Then in your icons.scss you should do this:
@import "icons/*.png";
@include all-icons-sprites;
Since import refers to the directory imagesthat we defined above.
Remember to understand the configuration file, because it can be difficult http://compass-style.org/help/tutorials/configuration-reference/