Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Interview with Susan Leveille

  • In this one minute video, Susan Leveille, a local weaver and textile researcher discusses loom reeds, their construction and their repair. The reed is part of the loom that goes in the beater and helps keep the warp threads separated. The loom she is standing in front of was originally used on the porch of the Hall family farm in Macon County, North Carolina. The farm, located on the banks of the Little Tennessee River, comprised over fifty acres and included a nineteenth century farmhouse and eleven outbuildings. The Hall loom had been stored in a barn loft for a number of years before being donated to the Mountain Heritage Center. Obvious care was taken in its storage because all of the components of the loom were found together and in good condition. The Mountain Heritage Center put the loom back together and placed it on display starting in 2007.