evelyn5269

Going to order the solids today to finish the yardage for my quilt and MSQC has Bella solids on sale. I have always used Kona solids cause that is all we have locally. I like her sale prices real good but not sure of the quality of the Bella having never been able to feel or see it.

Thanks in advance for advice

mckwilter

Aren't the Bella's made by Moda? If so, you know they'd be good quality.

Jan in VA

Bella's ARE made by Moda, yes, but there is a difference in the "feel" between them and the Kona Cottons.

I might use Bellas for hand quilting sooner than I would Konas, but I'm happy with both. Konas seem "heavier" in 'feel' to me, but the light lavender Bella "Mist" I ordered from Arizona Quilts recently is fine for the backing I need.

Jan in VA

feline fanatic

I agree with Jan, I love them both equally but I also feel that the kona seems to have a heavier hand to it. They are both awesome fabrics though.

Sewnoma

Kona has a firmer hand, Bella is softer - to me this makes Bella a little harder to work with sometimes (esp. on bias cuts), but in most situations there's no real difference (and you can always use some starch to firm it up).

Both sew up beautifully and seem to be of similar durability and once they're in a quilt I can't tell them apart - if you can get a good deal on one over the other, I'd probably go with the good deal. I personally prefer Kona but that's just my preference.

Doggramma

Recently I used both Kona and Bella in a quilt. I found the Bella to be more off grain. And I think the Kona has a nicer, sturdier feel.

ghostrider

Bella has a softer hand and a smoother surface finish than Kona. If we were talking paint, I'd say Bella is satin and Kona is matte. Both are 60x60 broadcloth, but I suspect Bella's threads are finer than Kona's...no proof of that suspicion at all however. Kona softens and the weave tightens up with washing, Bella's hand stays much the same as off the bolt. They are both excellent fabrics.

Terri D.

There are nice color choices in the Bella line, but my experience with them is that they ravel like crazy.

crafty pat

They are both good but I always go for Kona because I like the heavier fabric in my quilts.

ManiacQuilter2

I believe that Jan of VA is correct. I use only RK Kona Cotton because it is a little heavier weave and they have over 250 colors to choose from.