The use of specialized patterning materials for fabricating boat covers and large-scale fabrication projects is rooted in traditional sailmaking and marine upholstery. Historically, fabricators relied on scrap fabric, canvas, or kraft paper to create patterns before cutting and sewing final materials.
Over time, innovations in engineering and textile technology led to the development of durable, reusable, and dimensionally stable patterning fabrics like Canvex and PolyFab® PatternPro™ available through Trivantage.
Condensed History of Marine Patterning Fabric
- 18th Century – Tried, True, and Traditional: Sailmakers and boat builders through the early 1700’s made use of every material available to them. If available, scraps of sailcloth, canvas, or oilcloth would be sewn together and used to pattern out projects. Otherwise, patterns were often drawn directly onto the cloth. The use of tarred twine and plumb lines were also common to keep drawn lines as straight as possible.
- 19th Century – Industrial Revolution Drives Innovation:During the rise of industry, mass production, and efforts to standardize manufacturing processes, tools and materials increased in availability and quality consistency. The invention of cutting, weaving, drafting, and sewing machines decreased production time, making more room for innovation, communication, and sharing techniques.
- Early-Mid 20th Century – Introduction of Plastic: As boat cover fabrication became more specialized, with more personal boat owners than ever, brown kraft paper became a popular choice due to its affordability. Some fabricators began using and experimenting with thin plastic sheeting, which offered better flexibility and resistance to moisture but lacked durability.
- Late 20th Century – Reinforcement & Reusability: The demand for more precise tools and reusable, eco-friendly materials led to the introduction of reinforced plastic and fiber-based materials. These solutions succeed in offering a balance of flexibility, durability, and resistance to tearing, improving efficiency in workshops.
- 21st Century – Modern Advancements: Today’s large-scale patterning materials are designed to be tear-resistant, dimensionally stable, and markable with pencils or markers. These materials allow for precise fittings and repeated use, reducing waste and improving accuracy in marine fabrications.
Patterning Fabric Industry Terminology & Shop Slang
One can imagine that over so many years of use, the marine fabrication industry employs a variety of terms to refer to large-scale patterning materials like Patternpro and Canvex. With nationwide networking opportunities, keep up with shop slang and industry terms to stay connected to your industry, no matter the location:
- Patterning Film: A broad term for translucent plastic or reinforced material used to create precise templates.
- Template Material/Template Paper:Emphasizes its use in creating precise templates before cutting final fabric. Despite this often being a non-paper product, some fabricators use this term out of habit.
- Layout Fabric: Can be used to refer to durable materials used for pattern layout and adjustments before cutting.
- Pattern Cloth: A term used in some marine shops to describe fabric-like patterning material.
- Mock-Up Film:Occasionally used to describe translucent patterning films.
- Canvas Drafting Sheet: Some old-school fabricators refer to it this way, especially when transitioning from kraft paper.
- Tracing Vinyl: Can be used when the material is clear enough to allow visibility of underlying surfaces for tracing
Shop Patterning Fabric at Trivantage
For ultra stable patterning material trusted by fabricators nationwide, shop our selection of flexible, lightweight, and tear-resistant pattern material for marine and large-scale custom projects.
