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Oilcoth Facts

What exactly is Oilcloth?
Originally oilcloth was a heavy cotton canvas soaked in oil or liquid paraffin to make it waterproof (literally "oiled cloth"). In the 19th century it was widely used for tents, rain gear and other water repellent applications. As you might guess, the original oil cloth was highly flammable, and more than a few tents caught fire, often setting nearby buildings, wagons and other structures to the ground.

With the invention of plastic in the 20th century, oil cloth went from being oil-soaked fabric to a soft plastic fused to a canvas backing. The use of plastic allowed manufacturers to print a wide variety of colors and patterns, transforming a once dull brown textile into a brightly colored, inexpensive "oilcloth." By mid-century it was extremely popular for use as easy care table coverings, cook wear and more.

Improvements in plastics manufacturing and printing technologies continued through the end of the century making today's oilcloth better than ever. Modern oilcloth is a now a heavyweight vinyl fused to a cotton-web backing which is not only flexible, colorful and waterproof, but also fire and stain resistant, and slower to fade after long term exposure to the sun.

How to care for oilcloth

Oilcloth requires very little care and cleans up with nothing more than a sponge, some soap and warm water. For storage, it can be folded or rolled before putting away. Any creases in the oilcloth from storing folded will quickly disappear once it is unfolded and allowed to relax at room temperature.

You should never machine wash, dry or iron oilcloth as high heat can cause it to melt, damaging not only the oilcloth, but quite likely your dryer and/or iron as well.

How is oilcloth sold?
We sell all of our oilcloth by the yard with a minimum of one 1/2 yard cut. Oilcloth is 47/48 inches (120/122 cm) wide, so if you purchase one yard of oilcloth, you will receive a 36 inch by 48 inch (91 cm by 122 cm) piece.

Oilcloth uses
Because oilcloth is both waterproof and easy care, it is great for tablecloths, tote bags, picnic blankets, aprons and many other things. (See our pattern section for ideas.) Oilcloth doesn't fray, so hemming it is not necessary. However, if you would like to stitch it for an extra accent, or you are sewing oilcloth together or with other fabrics, you will need a heavy-duty needle and thread and/or sewing machine. (Residents of the EU and State of California, please read this notice.)