The term “duck” comes from the Dutch word doek, which refers to a linen canvas once used for sailors’ white trousers and outerwear. The word “cotton” has been added to modern duck items simply to distinguish them from traditional linen duck. Interestingly enough, cotton duck is related to another type of work-ready duck. Duct tape, often called “duck tape,” was originally manufactured by adding an adhesive backing to regular cotton duck.
Cotton duck (from Dutch: doek, “linen canvas”), also simply duck, sometimes duck cloth or duck canvas or half panama fabric is a heavy, plain woven cotton fabric. Duck canvas is more tightly woven than plain canvas.
Half panama is a solid, sturdy cotton fabric that has been woven with two threads in parallel instead of one. In other words, cotton duck canvas fabric is woven with two yarns together in the warp and a single yarn in the weft. This creates a fabric which is heavy duty yet lightweight and easy to clean. Particularly suitable for curtains and roman blinds, this fabric base cloth is often used for high quality prints.
Cotton duck canvas fabric is used in a wide range of applications, from sneakers to painting canvases to tents to sandbags. Common uses of Duck include:
- shoes and sneakers
- tents
- sandbags
- homemade artist canvas for paintings
- aprons
- totes
- backpacks
- duffel bags
- handbags
- lunch bags
- window treatments
- shoes
- stroller covers
- baby carriers
- And more
Duck is classified according to weight in a numerical system, with grade 1 the heaviest and grade 12 the lightest variety. Besides this, traditional names exist, which are rarely used today.
Number duck classifications per linear yard, 22 inches wide
Numbered duck is nominally made in weights from 1 to 12, but numbers 7, 9, and 11 are no longer used. Some typical uses of various grades (with weights in ounces) are:[1]
- No. 1 (18 oz): hammocks, cots, sandbags
- No. 2 (17 oz): hatch paulins
- No. 3 (16 oz): heavy-duty bags
- No. 4 (15 oz): sea bags
- No. 5 (14 oz): heavy work clothes
- No. 6 (13 oz): large boat covers, heavy work clothes
- No. 8 (11 oz): work clothes, clothes bags
- No. 10 (9 oz): work clothes, shower curtains
- No. 12 (7 oz): light clothes
Number duck classifications per square yard
There is often confusion when it comes to matching up weights and the correct number duck classification. The table below accurately represents the weight and number duck classification[4] per square yard instead of linear yard 22 inches wide.
- No. 1 (30 oz/sq yd or 1,000 g/m2): floor & wall covering, sound absorption, equipment covers, heavy bags, horse packs, storage bins
- No. 2 (28 oz/sq yd or 950 g/m2): hatch paulins
- No. 3 (26 oz/sq yd or 880 g/m2): sea bags
- No. 4 (24 oz/sq yd or 810 g/m2): heavy-duty work clothes, hammocks, sand bags, director chairs, place mats, belting
- No. 5 (23 oz/sq yd or 780 g/m2): heavy work clothes
- No. 6 (21 oz/sq yd or 710 g/m2): utility bags, place mats, belting
- No. 8 (18 oz/sq yd or 610 g/m2): backpacks, painted floor cloths, tents, tarps, awnings, work clothes, clothes bags
- No. 10 (14.75 oz/sq yd or 500 g/m2): artist canvas, murals, shower curtains, painted floor cloths, hammocks, clothes
- No. 12 (11.5 oz/sq yd or 390 g/m2): stretched artist canvas, furniture slip covers, light clothes