Annie Jean Gash as a young woman in 1899.

During
the past year staff and volunteers in the Local History Room at the
Transylvania County Library have been processing, indexing, and preserving
documents, photographs, and other print materials donated by the Gash
family.  Among the items was information
concerning a weaving device and bias weaving method invented by Annie Jean
Gash.

Miss Gash
originally filed an application for a patent on August 24, 1937.  She had entered into an agreement with Donar
Products Corporation in Medford, Massachusetts on August 20, 1937 to
manufacture the product.  Gash was to
receive 1.5% of the net selling price on the first thirty thousand sales and 3%
on sales thereafter.  A patent was
granted on May 23, 1939. 

A Donar Weave-It loom is currently on

display with the new exhibit, “Generations of

Creations: Spinning, Weaving & Quilting”

at the Transylvania Heritage Museum.

A
February 23, 1939 Transylvania Times article stated that the Weave-It loom
invented by Miss Gash is now being placed on the market by Donar Products.  “Along with the little square loom in an
attractive box container, is included also an illustrated booklet giving
directions for weaving and sewing the completed squares together.  Pictures of several articles woven on the loom
by Miss Gash are shown in the booklet. 
Bags, scarfs, dresses, coats and many other articles of wearing apparel
may be fashioned from the bias squares made on the loom.”

Photographs
and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina
Room, Transylvania County Library. Visit the NC Room during regular library
hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional
photographs. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at [email protected]
or 828-884-1820.

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