Canvas duck is a type of durable fabric typically made from cotton, although it is also possible to find it made with linen. It is also referred to as cotton duck, duck cloth, or simply duck. This textile is used in a wide range of applications, from shoes to sandbags, and it is readily available at most craft stores in a range of weights and colors. Specific weights can also be ordered from specialty companies.
Typical canvas duck is constructed with what is known as a plain weave, meaning that the threads criss-cross each other to form a simple checkerboard pattern. The plain weave is both easy to construct and very strong, especially when made with heavyweight threads. Duck is often reinforced with two warp threads to every weft thread, creating a characteristic stiff, heavy feel.
Most textile manufacturers grade their products before sale, using a widely standardized numbering system. Duck is graded by weighing a sheet of a specific size; the lighter the fabric, the higher the grade. Grade 10 is the lightest form, while grade one is the heaviest. Some manufacturers also make “nought duck,” which is even heavier than grade one duck.
Heavier weight canvas duck may be used for things like upholstering, sailmaking, shoes, and hammocks, while lighter grades are suitable for canvas bags, work garments, shower curtains, and similar products. Classically, this fabric is sold in an unbleached creamy color, although it can be bleached or dyed if a specific color is desired. Like other fabrics made with cotton, it is generally easy to care for, and it takes dye very readily.
No ducks are involved in the manufacture of this product. The “duck” is derived from a Dutch word, doek, which refers to linen canvas. Since all canvas used to be manufactured from hemp, textile manufacturers wanted to be able to differentiate between traditional versions and ones made with other fibers, and the term spread to other languages, including English, where it metamorphosed into “duck.”