Lucy Morgan: Weaver, Teacher, Hero of Handweaving

As Lucy put it, "[I want] to bring about a revival of hand-weaving…[and] provide our neighbor mothers with a means of adding to their generally meager incomes without having to leave their homes….My mind wove fanciful visions while my tired, sore fingers were weaving tangible materials." In 1923 Lucy began teaching local women to weave in their homes. Later that same year she was appointed as head of the Appalachian School's Fireside Industries where she taught weaving in a set location and found outlets for selling the finished wares.

Her program and influence grew and in 1929 Lucy founded what is now known as The Penland School of Crafts where the same women she had taught were now teaching others. So raise your shuttles for Lucy Morgan, one of the many intrepid teachers who kept people weaving.