Canvas is an extremely durable plain - woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame. It is also used in such fashion objects as handbags, electronic device cases, and shoes.
Modern canvas is usually made of cotton or linen, although historically it was made from hemp. It differs from other heavycotton fabrics, such as denim, in being plain weave rather than twill weave. Canvas comes in two basic types: plain and duck. The threads in duck canvas are more tightly woven. The term duck comes from the Dutch word for cloth, doek. In the United States, canvas is classified in two ways: by weight (ounces per square yard ) and by a graded number system. The numbers run in reverse of the weight so a number 10 canvas is lighter than number 4.
