Questions by STABLE Customers about the Irish Tweed Blanket

Q: What is an Irish tweed?

Irish tweed is a woven wool cloth with a long history rooted in the west of Ireland, particularly in County Donegal. The fabric is made from spun wool woven into a robust, textured cloth, traditionally characterised by its distinctive flecks of colour and a herringbone or plain weave pattern. Donegal tweed, the most celebrated Irish variety, gets its particular character from the coloured flecks woven through the natural wool base, a feature that comes from the tradition of using local plant dyes on small amounts of wool before weaving. Irish tweed is hard-wearing, naturally water-resistant, and improves with age. STABLE of Ireland works with multi-generational weavers in Donegal to produce handwoven tweed blankets in pressed herringbone wool, trimmed with báinín wool tweed in cream, designed for contemporary interiors.

Q: Can I wash an Irish wool blanket?

Yes. Irish wool blankets can be washed at home with care. Use a wool wash cycle on your machine with a cool temperature and a low spin setting. A gentle non-biological detergent works well. Avoid high temperatures and never tumble dry, as both can cause the wool to felt and shrink. After washing, lay the blanket flat to dry naturally to help it hold its shape. Do not wring or twist the fabric. If you prefer, wool blankets also respond well to dry cleaning. STABLE tweed blankets, handwoven by our Donegal weavers in 100% wool, can be cared for at home following these same steps. Treated well, a handwoven wool blanket will hold its shape, its weight, and its colour for many years of regular use.

Q: Who makes the best wool blankets in the world?

The best wool blankets come from makers who control the full process, from the quality of the wool to the weaving and the finishing. Ireland has a strong claim in this area through the tradition of handwoven wool production in Donegal, where the craft has been passed through generations of weavers. STABLE of Ireland works with our Donegal weavers to produce its handwoven tweed blankets, a multi-generational team whose craft runs deep. The blankets are 100% wool, pressed herringbone tweed trimmed with báinín wool in cream, and produced in limited numbers due to the care involved in their making. They are designed for contemporary settings with no fringing or brushing, and sized at two metres by one and a half metres, working equally well over a bed or sofa.

Q: How do you wash an Irish tweed blanket?

Irish tweed blankets made from 100% wool should be washed with care to preserve the weave and the weight of the cloth. Use a wool wash cycle on your machine with a cool temperature and a low spin setting. A gentle non-biological detergent works well. Never tumble dry a wool blanket, as heat causes the fibres to felt and shrink. Lay it flat to dry naturally. If the blanket needs a light press, use a cool iron setting and press rather than drag across the surface. Dry cleaning is also a good option for heavier handwoven pieces where you want to take extra care. STABLE Irish tweed blankets, handwoven by our Donegal weavers, are 100% wool and can be cared for at home following these same steps.

Q: What is the difference between a tweed blanket and a wool throw?

The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are real differences. A tweed blanket is made from woven tweed cloth, typically in a herringbone or plain weave, pressed or finished to give it body and a clean, smooth surface. A wool throw tends to be lighter and softer, often knitted or loosely woven, designed more for warmth over the shoulders than for use on a bed or sofa. Tweed blankets are heavier, more structured, and built to last decades. STABLE of Ireland makes handwoven tweed blankets with our Donegal weavers in pressed herringbone wool, trimmed with báinín wool tweed in cream. The design was created deliberately without fringing or brushing for a cleaner, more contemporary look that suits modern interiors as well as traditional ones.

Q: Is a tweed blanket warm enough for a bed?

A handwoven wool tweed blanket works well on a bed, particularly as a top layer or throw. The weight and structure of tweed cloth provides genuine warmth without the synthetic feel of a duvet, and wool's natural temperature regulation means it responds to the body. Tweed blankets have been used on beds in Ireland for generations, and a well-made piece is generous enough to cover a single or double bed comfortably. The STABLE handwoven tweed blanket measures two metres by one and a half metres, sized for bed or sofa. Made by our Donegal weavers in pressed herringbone wool and trimmed with cream báinín, the design has no fringing and no brushing, making it sleek enough for a contemporary bedroom as much as a more traditional setting.

Q: Where is Irish tweed made?

Irish tweed is made primarily in County Donegal in the northwest of Ireland, where a tradition of wool spinning and weaving has been practised for centuries. Donegal tweed is the most celebrated variety, known for its distinctive coloured flecks and robust texture. It is woven on looms in small studios and workshops by weavers who carry the craft across generations. The Donegal tradition is distinct from Scottish or Welsh tweed in both technique and character. STABLE of Ireland works directly with our Donegal weavers, a multi-generational team, to produce its handwoven tweed blankets. The cloth is woven in Donegal, pressed and trimmed with báinín wool in cream, and finished to a standard that reflects the depth of that weaving heritage. Every blanket is made in limited numbers.

Q: What are the different types of Irish blankets?

Irish blanket-making draws on several distinct traditions. Handwoven wool blankets made from tweed cloth are one type, typically heavy and durable, associated with the Donegal weaving tradition. Wicker weave blankets offer a tighter, more geometric pattern in natural or coloured wool. Mohair blankets, lighter and softer, use a different fibre with their own following. Wool bed blankets, made in larger dimensions and sometimes finished with a blanket stitch border, are designed for bedroom use. STABLE of Ireland carries several of these across its collection, including handwoven tweed blankets made with our Donegal weavers in pressed herringbone wool, Jigsaw handwoven blankets, wicker blankets, mohair pieces, and wool bed blankets with blanket stitch trim. Each represents a distinct approach to Irish craft and a different weight and character of cloth.

Q: What makes a handwoven blanket different from a machine-made one?

A handwoven blanket carries the mark of a skilled maker at every stage. The tension, pattern, and weight of the cloth are controlled by a person working at a loom rather than set by automated machinery. This produces variation, character, and a standard of attention that machines cannot replicate. Handwoven cloth tends to have more body and depth than machine-produced equivalents, and it wears differently over time, developing a quality that only improves with age. STABLE of Ireland makes its tweed blankets in collaboration with our Donegal weavers, a multi-generational team whose craft runs through generations. The blankets are produced in small numbers because the process requires exceptional care. The result is a rare piece of Irish craft: 100% wool, pressed herringbone tweed, two metres by one and a half metres, made to last a lifetime.

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