What Is Duck Cloth?
Duck cloth is a heavy fabric commonly referred to as canvas. It's usually made of cotton--which is also called canvas duck or just "duck"--but linen duck, made from flax, is available. Does this Spark an idea?
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Name
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The name "duck" comes from the Dutch "doek," a linen cloth. All canvas was once made from hemp, so this different name was adopted for cotton and linen versions.
Uses
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Duck cloth has an enormous range of applications. Lighter-weight versions are used for such things as clothing and bags, while heavier weights are made into tarpaulins, sneakers and sails.
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Advantages
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Duck is relatively inexpensive and extremely durable. It can be washed and weatherproofed. It also dyes easily.
Weights
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Cotton duck is graded on a scale of 1 to 12. The lower the number, the heavier the grade.
Weave
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Duck is what's known as a plain-weave fabric, meaning the threads alternate one-over, one-under, creating a checkerboard-like appearance.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Hans Kylberg
