What sailing-ship sails were made from

What materials were sails made from between 1500 and 1850?

Linen and cotton were common, with hemp and earlier wool also used; cotton became more practical for large sails.

Sailcloth included linen, cotton, hemp, and wool on earlier vessels. Material choice depended on local supply as well as strength and weather performance. During the War of 1812, interrupted flax supplies encouraged the United States to use indigenous cotton. As sails grew larger, linen became too heavy for some applications and cotton became the dominant practical choice by the late 1850s.