Hemp Canvas

[Ol Man From the Sea]

I have noticed that a sutler, who shall remain nameless, is selling hemp canvas that is not unlike what would have been used for sails and is almost 5' wide. Was canvas that wide around in 1700? Thanks for the help.

[Edward T. Porter]

Kass... I guess there is time for some advertising from you

[kass]

Some extant sails are made from widths only 2 feet wide. Standard linen (flax or hemp) widths during this period were less than a yard wide.

When trying to replicate period widths, I cut my fabric and flat fell it back together. This hemp canvas would take two seams per width.

[Ol Man From the Sea]

Thanks Kass

Unfortunately, 16 to 40 feet of hand sewn flat felled seams is enough extra work to move this project to the back burner for this year. I was thinking of making a period correct sail section to use as a tarp at Pirates in Paradise this year, but with everything else I need to do, and as slow as I hand sew, that becomes too much. I am still interested in any info, or where I might find info, on those extant sails though. Maybe machine sewn cotton using modern panel widths but period details would be good practice not to mention useful in the mean time. Again thanks