What do Americans call canvas and where should I buy it?

Ok, might seem like a dumb question because the answer is probably Canvas

The reason I ask, is my search engine of choice - https://www.ecosia.org is built on some AI system that is totally confused about my culture, origins and location. When I search for canvas offcuts I get UK and AU sites even though I’m asking it to return US results. Searching for canvas alone just brings up election stuff.

Why am I searching for canvas?

I love the material, I grew up going on holiday in canvas tents my grandfather made. Here’s a picture of my own canvas tent - a Tentipi, taken 15 years ago, before beard, with classic campers hair.



I’m planning lots of garden projects which includes a large workshop. In the meantime, I need to set up a temporary workshop, something like an army mess tent:



I have found sites that sell these, but it’s simple enough that I could probably build one, so long as it’s not too time consuming and not stupidly expensive. I’m struggling to source canvas in the US mostly because I’m not using the right search words . . . a common problem for me. So I once agin turn to the awesome people of permies.

I'm interested to see what more knowledgeable people answer with, but I thought I'd hand you a couple links in the meantime:
https://www.canvasetc.com/product-category/canvas-fabric-cotton-duck/army-duck-fabric/
https://www.fabric.com/find?searchText=canvas

Maybe try "canvas tarp"?  
Or "drop cloth" - it seems over here, drop cloth is one of the few things still made of canvas instead of plastic...
https://www.mytarp.com/collections/custom-canvas-drop-cloth-made-in-usa

I think I read somewhere that Harbor Freight has them, but check the weight to make sure you're comparing apples to apples. I'd go to Princess Auto, but that's a Canadian thing - but I know you're not beyond shopping Canadian, so look at their website maybe.

There's a BB for making a tent - in the sewing area - so maybe see what qualifies?

I searched for heavy canvas material.
Bunches of results. Here is a good one
https://www.canvasetc.com/product/heavy-canvas-fabric-num660/

EDIT) OOPS seems Christopher already found them.

Canvas tents are still available, though pricey.

For canvas material locally look for awning companies.

You might even be lucky enough to find big truck tarps like truckers use to cover stuff they are hauling.



https://montanacanvas.com/

Try searching for "cotton duck". Heavyweight duck cloth is canvas, but if you search for just "duck" without "cotton" then you will get waterfowl instead of fabric.

We have bought ours from BigDuckCanvas.com. They have many varieties, weights, and colors. Unfortunately shipping is expensive. A local fabric store may also have something. Joann's maybe. Will your tent set up be permenant/ have to endure the winter? That will probably determine your weight. Our canvas tent is only 7oz so that it is light and easy to transport. The design is such that it sheds snow easily, so the light weight fabric is not a problem. But my folks have one that has a shallower roof like your photo. That one is 14oz and has lasted 20+ years (with some mildew cleaning along the way). I'd probably go with something in the 10-14oz range if it were me.

Edward, maybe try "cotton duck"? or oilskin? Maybe some details like 10 oz. or 13 oz. might get your search away from politics? (or modify your search terms with -election -ballot -survey)
Also tryTentsmiths, or Awnings for Tentsmiths tents...
I know the owners, feel free to drop my name, I think they could help steer you in the right direction... I owe them a visit or a beer... ;-)

EDIT: Non-tent items Tentsmiths sells fabric by the yard!

Jay Angler wrote:Maybe try "canvas tarp"?  
Or "drop cloth" - it seems over here, drop cloth is one of the few things still made of canvas instead of plastic...
https://www.mytarp.com/collections/custom-canvas-drop-cloth-made-in-usa

I think I read somewhere that Harbor Freight has them, but check the weight to make sure you're comparing apples to apples. I'd go to Princess Auto, but that's a Canadian thing - but I know you're not beyond shopping Canadian, so look at their website maybe.

There's a BB for making a tent - in the sewing area - so maybe see what qualifies?

I thought I had found a good, cheap source of fabric in dropcloths, but after trying one I found it wasn't. The wane is nice, fluffy, thick threads but the weft is made up of much sparser, finer threads that can easily be torn apart with my fingers.It's so loosely woven that even after pinking it still falls apart at the edges. And water would go right through it.

I'm not sure what the Harbor Freight tarps I have seen are treated with, but you may not want it.

In actuality, it will likely be much cheaper to find an army surplus tent than to make one. Newer synthetic stuff is expensive, but the older canvas stuff can be found dirt cheap often.

Are there any yachting stores near you, ship chandlers in English 😉 where you might find sail cloth? Would that work for you?

Canvas ETC will send you free offcuts! Just pay shipping, which is pretty reasonable. I've done this a couple of times and received some quite useful bits, including a section that's roughly 4 yards and over 60 inches wide! linky

Great replies, thank you all. It makes such a difference when I know the right terms. Duck cotton and drop cloth! I would never have guessed those. Even have a link to a product on a store I won’t use helps, then at least I can use that to find similar stuff elsewhere.

I intend to use ‘sails’ - canvas shades in some parts of the garden that get 12 hours of straight sun at the moment, so seeing as my canvas shelter is a stop gap, I’ll make sure what ever I get can be reused. I do like the idea of making something myself but I really have way too many other projects - I’ll still check out off cut suppliers though. Just a 12 by 12 sheet with eyelets would be perfect even it means I don’t get an badge bits! I’ll still make sure it doesn’t have any add nasty extras.

Cheers

And sorry for taking so long to reply - I went down the tent rabbit hole . . . I miss camping with my mates back in the UK. Sound of rain on canvas is one of my happy sounds.

I decided to splash out and buy a 12 x 12 oiled tarp from Tentsmiths - thanks for the link and recommendations.

I now have an outdoor workshop - Pictures and description with my Oddball BB submission



I can work outside out of the sun and rain, which is what I did for most of today.