Ok, .... did you make a typing error? What’s the difference between Wichelt 32ct (count) and Wichelt 32ct (count)??
Clarify your question please.......

Hello,

Are you wanting to do know the difference between regular 32ct. Linen and 32ct. Belfast linen? Belfast linen is softer than 32ct. Linen and is more flexible to work with while regular linen is a more stiff. Belfast Linen reminds me of a Jobelan fabric almost?! And I believe the name Belfast comes from a city in Ireland where a lot of linen manufacturers started?! I am not 100% sure on that but I remember reading that somewhere? Hope this helps somewhat?!

~Kristi @ ECS

I don't think there was a typo. After readying the question, I had the same question. If you go to Products, Fabric, Linen, and scroll down to 32 count there are two options, Wichelt 32 Count Linen and Wichelt 32 Count Belfast Linen. Both are on 55" wide bolts and both come in an array of colors but different colors, at least part of them. I went out to Wichelt's web-site and they have some 32 count marked as linen as some as Belfast linen. Both are 100% linen and I didn't find anything on the site to tell me what the difference might be but I didn't spend much time on the site. If anyone knows, I would be interested in the answer as well.
I see Kristi answered while I was typing. That helps a lot - Thank You!

Ok, my apologies... your complete question was asking the difference between 32-count Wichelt and Wichelt 32-count Belfast Linen?
For some reason the whole question shows up on the ECS ‘front page’ of the Chat-board versus not seeing the words “Belfast Linen’ when I saw your question when I was actually on the ‘chat.’
SOME Wichelt ‘linen’ is a more expensive, more loosely woven fabric that has fabric strands that are slightly different in diameter. The fabric might have ‘nubs’ which are occasional wider diameters in some of the strands which makes it look like it has slightly raised areas on the cloth caused by the machining of the linen but does not appear to affect the fabric and in cases where you want a fabric to have a somewhat ‘Antique’ look to it, the ‘nubs’ enhance that type of look. Some linens are stiffer in feel than other linens and when stitching with them. Linens are more expensive but the look of linen may very well be worth it. Belfast linen is a ‘softer’ linen and closer to what the ‘evenweaves’ look and feel like and I don’t think it has ‘nubs’ like some other linen types
Wichelt also offers 32-count EVENWEAVE fabrics.
32 count ‘evenweaves’ such as Lugana are fabrics where the horizontal and vertical strands are of EQUAL DIAMETER, Also, there are no ‘nubs’ on evenweaves and the fabric itself is more tightly woven than the linen. Evenweaves such as a Lugana or Jobelan fabrics have a ‘softer’ feel, less stiff fabric that have a nice drape to them. I use evenweaves (my personal preference) because my X’s will all be exactly the same height and width to each other, whereas the X’s on certain linens may have a slight variation in size related to the different width of the
Fabric. Many stitchers who stitch on linen, Stitch ‘over 2’ squares of linen, while many stitchers will stitch ‘over one’ square or
‘Over two’ squares on evenweaves and on Belfast.
Both types of fabric have 32 squares to the inch.
Which is more common?? They are both fairly common but a lot depends on the ‘look’ of the fabric that the Stitcher wishes to achieve.
Hope this helps! :)

Oops,
Kristi from ECS was able to assist you while I was typing....😳

No matter Bermuda. You gave a very good description of the difference in the materials and the look of the finished product. This interested me very much although I am unlikely to ever use these materials due to my eye-sight.

You are not alone Deidre!
I am using my eyeglasses, my Mag-Eyes in front of my
Glasses and also looking through the my Stand Magnifier to be stitching ‘Sacred Hour’ over one.
Every time I look in the mirror I’m beginning to look like
This!!! 🤪

The Belfast linen is made by Zweigart and is a higher quality, softer linen. The Permin linen is not dyed on a Zweigart base and is stiffer and looser woven.

Zweigart linens are named by count ie. 28 is Cashel, 32 is Belfast, 35/36 is Edinburgh, 40 is Newcastle and 55 is Kingston.

If you see a linen from a hand-dyer such as "Gingerbread Cashel" it is dyed on a 28 count Zweigart base fabric.

Thanks Bermuda, your details help a lot. I am with you in liking even weave for cross stitch so all my x's are the same size. That said, I do other types of needlework such as pulled & drawn thread, hardanger, and white work and I do like the linens for those on occasion. I always assumed that Wichelt 32 count was Belfast. Obviously, I was wrong and would have been in for a bit of a rude awakening had I ordered material expecting Belfast and received the stiffer material.

My favorites in the evenweaves are the 25-count Lugana and the 28 and 32 count Jobelan and Laguna.
I like Belfast linen as well but the Lugana and Jobelan fabrics offer more reasonable pricing and have a fairly large variety of different colors. If I decide to go temporarily insane and do a project on black fabric, 28 count Jobelan evenweave is my ‘go to’ fabric.
I just wish the manufacturers would make a Jobelan or Lugana 36-count evenweave but they don’t. Fabric Flair has a 36-count evenweave fabric but not in white.