CANVAS FABRIC
Canvas Fabric is a plain-weave fabric made from thick yarn that’s commonly used because of its heavy-duty and water-resistance properties. Initially, this type of fabric was used as material for sail cloth. It was also a popular choice for painting artworks because it is an excellent painting medium. This fabric has similarities to denim in terms of thickness and durability, the difference though is that denim features twill weave pattern.
Canvas fabrics usually have low thread count because of the thickness of its yarn, with most canvas only having a thread count between 50 to 100. The higher the thread count the softer the texture, but lower durability. This type of fabric naturally has water resistance properties. In addition, modern forms of industrial canvas are coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on one or both sides for extra waterproofing.
Canvas Fabric was traditionally made from hemp or linen, but nowadays, cotton has become the most popular material used for creating this fabric. The processes used for making this fabric usually differ depending on the intended purpose. Those that will be used for painting commonly goes through additional post-production processes. But the basic production processes remain the same, despite the type of fabric that’s used.
TYPES OF CANVAS FABRIC
Canvas Fabric has a few subtypes, with each offering unique features.
Plain Canvas is known to have about 50 to 100 thread count and is made from rough, wide fibers with relatively loose weaving. This is ideal for industrial use because of its roughness, and it can be abrasive against the skin when worn. It’s known for its water resistance properties and high durability making it a popular choice for painting and sail boats.
Duck Canvas, on the other hand, has a 100 to 150 thread count, features a closer weave, and is made using thinner threads. It has a smoother texture, which makes it suitable for apparel and other clothing that touch the skin. Even though it is softer and finer than plain canvas, it still offers the same water resistance properties.
Cotton Canvas is currently the most popular canvas compared to hemp and linen. Cotton is a stretcher material. It’s also fluffier and smoother than the other two. Compared to hemp and linen, it also has the lowest durability. Nevertheless, Cotton Canvas is still highly durable, plus, it is resistant to wrinkling and cracks, and is very versatile. It is easier to clean and requires minimal ironing.
Linen Canvas is a type of canvas fabric that’s been used since ancient times by Eqyptian sailmakers. While it is still a popular choice for sailmaking, it is also prized by artists because of its rigid durability and for the fact that it lasts longer than cotton canvas. Apart from strength and durability, it also has a smoother surface.
Hemp Canvas has a similar texture to cotton but is known to be three times stronger. It is very soft, but also highly durable. While most cotton canvas can last for about 10 years, this subtype of canvas fabric may last twenty to thirty years. It is also highly breathable and lightweight, and efficiently allows the passage of moisture from the skin to the atmosphere. Hemp Canvas is quite inflexible but is wear resistant. Currently, there are regulatory restriction to the use of hemp for canvas production.
Fabric Australia
Vardhman Threads is one of the leading stockists of trusted brands of fabrics in Australia. Our goal is to bring back personal service in an industry that has lost its friendly touch. Apart from high quality fabrics, we also supply webbings, bindings, fittings, and sewing threads at reasonable prices.
Vardhman Threads also aim to provide the best quality fabrics, webbings, and threads. Thus, we ensure that all products we sell at our store are made from premium-grade raw materials. All the parts and fittings that we house have been sourced from all over the world. We distribute our high-quality products not only in Australia but also in New Zealand.
