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Irish Linens / Irish Linen
Delicate Stitches by Sylvia carries Ulster and Belfast
linen fabrics from Ireland. These Irish linens are some
of the finest quality available to the home sewer. We
carry handkerchief weight Irish linen in white, ecru,
pink and blue. We carry batiste weight Irish linen in
white only. The Ulster Irish linens also comes in a tone
on tone check in white, khaki and blue. Both the Ulster
and Belfast Irish linens have a high thread count and a
soft hand.
Irish linen is the brand name given to linen produced in
Ireland. Irish Linens are made from the flax fiber,
which was grown in Ireland for many years before
advanced agricultural methods and more suitable climate
led to the concentration of flax cultivation in northern
Europe (Most of the world crop of quality flax is now
grown in Northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands).
Today flax for Irish Linen yarn is imported from France,
Belgium and the Netherlands. It is bought by spinners
who produce yarn and this, in turn, is sold to weavers
(or knitters) who produce fabric. Irish linen spinning
has now virtually ceased, yarns being imported from
places such as Eastern Europe and China.
Irish Linen yarn is defined as yarn which is spun in
Ireland from 100% flax fibres. Irish Linen fabric is
defined as fabric which is woven in Ireland from 100%
linen yarns. The yarns do not necessarily have to come
from an Irish spinner. Finished garments, or household
textile items can be labeled Irish linen, although they
may have been made up in another country. Irish linen
does not refer to the making up process, i.e. cutting
and sewing. It refers to where the fabric was woven or
knitted.
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