Canvas fabrics

Sustainable canvas fabrics sold by the meter for sewing and designing

Are you looking for robust woven fabric in organic quality? We offer a high-quality selection of canvas fabrics made from organic cotton , linen and recycled PET fibers and a large selection of organic canvas fabrics.

Canvas is the right material for durable products. The term canvas comes from English (canvas) and is also known as sailcloth. Because of its wide range of uses, canvas by the meter is very popular. The very durable canvas material is ideal for sewing bags, for example, and is also resilient enough to be used in a sewing project for backpacks or travel bags. But home accessories and individual decorations can also be made from high-quality canvas fabric. You can easily sew cushions, bean bags, covers or curtains yourself from this wonderful fabric.

Our range includes many heavy but also light canvas qualities. We offer canvas fabrics in plain colors or printed to design your interior. We have a variety of modern patterns and also classic designs in stock for you in high-quality yard goods. Our canvas fabric is a real all-rounder that impresses with its resilience, is wonderfully decorative and can therefore be used in many areas. Canvas fabric can be easily sewn with any conventional household sewing machine, even in multiple layers, and its durable handle makes it ideal for sewing beginners as well as professionals. Take a look through our comprehensive range. The price of our meter goods refers to 1 meter, the width of our canvas fabrics varies depending on the product (the fabric width is approximately 140 cm or extra wide at 280 cm ). The fabric is delivered in one piece. You're sure to find the right design for your next sewing project.

In this article:

  • How are canvas fabrics made?
  • What special properties do canvas fabrics have?
  • What do you have to consider when cutting canvas fabrics?
  • Care tips for canvas fabrics
  • All information about canvas fabrics in one summary

How are canvas fabrics made?

How is canvas made? Canvas fabric is a plain weave fabric. The warp thread and weft thread are closely woven. Canvas is made from various raw materials such as cotton, hemp or linen and sometimes mixed with synthetic fibers. With us you will mainly find canvas with organic cotton, linen or recycled fiber materials. The front and back of the fabric look identical and are usable. For outdoor and indoor use, canvas is additionally impregnated or given a coating to positively modify the material properties. This makes the canvas water- and dirt-repellent, particularly resistant to pests and flame-retardant.

Other available subtypes of plain weave are items in rep or panama weave.

What special properties do canvas fabrics have?

What features does Canvas have? In the production chapter it was shown that canvas fabric is flame-retardant, water- and dirt-repellent and/or resistant to pests when treated with special equipment. Canvas is also particularly robust, abrasion-resistant and tear-resistant thanks to the weave and the yarns used.

What are canvas fabrics used for?

A wide variety of sewing projects can be implemented with canvas fabrics. If you are a beginner making your first attempts on your sewing machine, we recommend sewing pillowcases with canvas fabrics. This easy-to-work fabric will help you get a feel for sewing. As an improvement, more sophisticated projects such as bags, curtains, canvas backpacks, duffel bags or even upholstery work are available.

Canvas is also suitable for robust weather clothing that still needs to look fashionable and elegant. These materials have a great effect due to their matt, shimmering and smooth surface. Canvas is ideal for weatherproof jackets and trousers. Here are some sample products listed:

  • trousers
  • Upholstery work
  • Pillow
  • Bags and backpacks
  • Robust clothing
  • Bean bags, duffel bags
  • Coat
  • Drapes/curtains

In addition to sewing, canvas fabrics can also be glued or stapled, for example to reupholster chairs or corner benches with furniture fabrics.

What do you have to consider when cutting canvas fabrics?

Because of its properties, canvas is the ideal fabric for sewing beginners. However, there are a few points to consider, which we explain below.

Canvas fabrics are not easy to cut due to their robustness. Since it is the same fabric on both sides (if there is no pattern), it doesn't matter how you lay it out and which side the markings are made on. As with most fabrics, you should pay attention to the direction of the thread and, if necessary, the pattern while pinning the pattern pieces. The best case scenario is to use a thimble to push your needles through the fabric if you have a particularly sturdy canvas version. The smooth surface is easy to mark and cut to size with either a good pair of scissors or a rotary cutter. If the fabric is relatively thick, a sharp cutting tool should be used so that cutting the fabric does not become unnecessarily difficult.

What do I have to consider when sewing canvas fabrics?

Canvas sews easily if you use the right needle and presser foot. Due to the thickness of the material, we recommend that you use a jeans needle with a size of 90 to 110 in the machine. We also recommend a durable sewing thread, as the thread is threaded through a tightly woven fabric weave.

To prevent the canvas material from slipping due to its smooth surface, we recommend a pair of jeans or quilted feet to help. Sewing machines sometimes offer additional transport aids for slippery fabrics.

Tip: If you want to reupholster your furniture, you can staple or glue canvas fabrics without any problems. This robust fabric is ideal for upholstery.

Care tips for canvas fabrics

Wash

Have you decided on a canvas fabric? When determining the optimal care for canvas fabrics, the first thing that is important is what kind of product you have made. Bags and backpacks made from untreated canvas are sturdy but can be prone to stains. Before washing, we recommend cleaning the fabric with a dirt eraser or a damp sponge. This is often enough to remove stains from the canvas fabric.

This also applies to canvas fabrics that you use for furniture and upholstery work, as these are often inseparable and therefore not suitable for the washing machine.

Coated canvas fabrics, on the other hand, are water-repellent and dirt-repellent and are not particularly susceptible to stains. Cleaning with a damp cloth is sufficient here.

As a rule, canvas fabrics can be washed gently in the washing machine. To do this, choose a wool wash cycle and the appropriate wool or mild detergent. The washing temperature should not exceed 30°C and excessive spinning should be avoided in order not to negatively influence the appearance of the canvas fabric.

dry

After washing, you can hang the canvas up to dry or lay it out on terry cloth or another absorbent surface to allow the material to dry smoothly. Canvas is not suitable for tumble drying.

Iron

If necessary, canvas can be ironed at a light temperature. Basically, the temperature depends on the material composition. Pure cotton or linen is ironed at a slightly higher temperature than, for example, material blends made of cotton and synthetic fibers. If in doubt, take a look at the information about our material composition and the technical information about our fabrics, where you will find information on how to care for our products.

All information about canvas fabrics in one summary

  • Canvas fabrics are available in natural materials or as blended fabrics.
  • The most important properties are robustness, abrasion resistance, water and dirt repellent, tear resistance and low flammability.
  • Suitable for outdoor and interior sewing projects.
  • Canvas is washed gently; for outdoor fabrics, stains are removed with a damp sponge. You can iron canvas fabrics at a low temperature and when dry.
  • Gruenestoffe.de offers great canvas fabrics made from ecological fibers such as organic cotton and linen as well as recycled fiber materials