Continuing Local Weaving Traditions

Have you ever examined a blanket passed down through generations and wondered about the name of a particular pattern? The next installment of our "Our Story" series will focus on local Appalachian weaving traditions! Frances Fox Shambaugh and her granddaughter, Jess Cox, will share their expertise and insights into local weaving patterns from the Gatlinburg area. They will demonstrate various weaving techniques and illustrate how they incorporate personal touches into their beautiful work on Tuesday, May 6, at 6 p.m.

This year, Frances and Jess Cox were accepted into the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program and Frances will be teaching Jess the art of traditional overshot weaving. Frances is a 5th generation weaver and began learning her family's tradition in 1980 after receiving her grandmother's loom. This led her to teach a weaving program at Arrowmont in 1983. Frances stated in the Tennessee Arts Commission Folklife, "This traditional art form was very important to this community in the early part of the 20th century. Traditional crafts were the only cash income in this area of self-sufficient farms with a barter economy." The Arrowcraft cottage weaving program ended in 1992.

The tradition of teaching families the art of weaving is decreasing and Jess Cox states in the article "There are a few craftspeople in my area who do it, but I don't know of anyone else my age in Gatlinburg actively weaving."

Want to learn more? Mark your calendars and join us for this FREE event. You can also RSVP on our event calendar to receive email reminders.

SOURCE: tnfolklife.org

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Also check out other Arts events in Gatlinburg.