Part of the problem is the different words we use in England and America. In England we call knitted fabric that is cut and sewn, typically to make T-shirts, ‘jersey’ (the tubular knitting machines were invented on the Island of Jersey, hence the name). In America, they are simply called knits.
Just to make things more confusing we use the term ‘knitwear’ to refer to garments that have been made by knitting pieces that are linked together to create the garment but in America, they are called sweaters.
In terms of linen, we have a wide range of woven linen fabrics. As it is very common to weave linen, we have always just referred to this as 100% linen.
linen jersey woven linen
Although it is knitted, the fabric is perfect for warm weather. It is a light and airy fabric. What we like about the linen knit compared to a more regular cotton knit is that the fabric drapes in a more flattering way. It is a good choice for t-shirts and also for vests to layer under sweaters or woven tops. In terms of jersey or knits, it is less common to use linen, most knits are in cotton or blends of cotton. We first started making garments in knitted linen back in 2007, at which point it was completely new to the market, and we identified this as different to the woven linen by referring to it as 100% linen jersey or sometimes as a linen knit.
Luke Dashper
Founder and Creative Director