Fabric History

MUSLIN:

Muslin is one of the oldest fabric constructions in the history of textiles! This fabric goes back to 13th Century and Mosul (hence the name), Mesopotamia, where it 1st was woven with gold and silver thread. In the Middle Ages, this light, tightly-woven, plain-weave fabric made of Cotton was used for clothing in hot, dry climates. India begin to mass-produce different weights of muslin for export to Europe. Muslin  was 1st woven in Europe in Paisley Scotland around 1700. Today, Muslin comes in many different weights, widths, and thread counts. Its end uses include crafts, apparel (great for test garments), quilting, photo and theatrical background fabric and industrial uses. Our Nature's Meadow, Garden and Valley Muslins are truly versatile, Natural Cotton cloths.

DUCK CLOTH/CANVAS:

"Duck Cloth" and "Canvas Cloth" are used interchangeably, as both refer to a group of heavyweight plain weave Cotton fabrics known for its tight weave and strength. In days of yore, it was used as sailcloth. The word "Duck" comes from the 19th Century, when all the canvas sails were imported from the British Isles. The lighter weight sails had a trademark stencil of a raven, while heavier weights bore a trademark featuring a duck. So, the word "Duck" became associated with a heavy fabric and was applied to Cotton canvas when it started to be woven in the U.S. No actual ducks are used in the manufacturing of this fabric!

Today Duck & Canvas is offered in a myriad of weights, constructions and finishes. Our 9/10 ounce/square yard Aquatic Duck is the most versatile, economical and popular weight for a variety of end uses!

BURLAP:

What exactly is "Burlap"? This is a fabric made from jute fibers. It is also referred to as Hessian Cloth. Now, jute is a vegetable fiber grown on plants, primarily in India and Bangladesh. It is not exactly a smooth fiber like cotton or silk-it is un-even and rough, but very durable. Because of this, the finished fabric will have a coarse, un-even  appearance. Burlap started to appear in the Western world in the 19th century, primarily used for bagging. Today, Burlap has a variety of end-uses, especially in decorating, crafts and utility bags. Here is a big selling point on our Birds Natural Burlap - it is 100% bio-degradable and recyclable!