Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Fiber tools: loom shuttles

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  • A loom shuttle such as this carries the weft fiber for a weaver. The warp is strung on to a loom from the back to where the weaver sits in front. A weaver needs at least one shuttle, and may use several, for different colors or for different threads. Most overshot weaving was done with two shuttles. The shuttles pictured are boat shuttles of different shapes, but all with a carved out core, where the fiber rests. The fiber is wound onto a stick or quill, held in the middle space, and threaded through the hole in the side. These 1800s-era shuttles were donated to the Southern Highland Craft Guild by Mrs. R. M. Hawkins. The maker of these shuttles is unknown.