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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

   
We hereby consent to the use in this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration
Statement of Tapistron International, Inc. on Form S-1, of our report dated
September 26, 1997 on the consolidated financial statements of Tapistron
International, Inc. and subsidiary as of July 31, 1997 and 1996 and for each of
the three years in the period ended July 31, 1997, appearing in the Prospectus,
which is part of the this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement, and
to the use of our report, dated September 26, 1997, on the financial statement
schedules appearing in the full Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement.

We also consent to the references to us under the headings "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data", "Summary Consolidated Financial Data" and
"Experts" in the Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement.
    



                   DUDLEY, HOPTON-JONES, SIMS & FREEMAN PLLP

                   /s/ Dudley, Hopton-Jones, Sims & Freeman PLLP
                   ---------------------------------------------

Birmingham, Alabama
May 21, 1998