I'm thinking of buying a bolt of background fabric. What is the best choice kona cotton or Roc Lon muslin? If I go with the Roc Lon are there different thread counts. I know the Kona is a tight weave. I don't want anything thin and flimsy and if I buy a bolt I want to make sure I'm happy with it.

I like the Roc-Lon Premium Permanent Press muslin - I think it's a 200 thread count, or 240? Something like that. It's very nice for piecing and backing and quilts easily.

If you have a fabric store nearby, you can go and look at the different fabrics and compare the bolt-end stickers to find the ones you like.

I agree! I have a bolt of bleached and un- bleached Ron- Loc premium.

Do you order or buy locally? Does Joanns have it and can you buy a bolt with your coupon?

I'm not sure if Jo ann still has the high quality stuff on a regular basis , last time I was in they only had a lower quality , but they may have just have been out of stock. This one is 180 thread count they do have a 200 but I only saw it in bleached.
Ron Loc makes several grades fo muslin, so do be careful. They say the premium is preshrunk .. but I have had a little bit of shrinkage in the "pre-shrunk" .

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/p...RODID=prd15043

Roc-lon??? Is that the same Roc-lon used as drapery lining?

Try getting a small quantity, say a yard or less, of each and work with each for a block or two. I like to feel the fabric myself. Also fabrics feel different after they're washed and ironed. Some block construction needs to have spray starch, sizing or pressing liquid for best results. You may decide you like one over the other, or you may like them both. Each quilter has his/her own likes and dislikes.

Ron Loc makes many types of fabrics, and has many grades of Muslin. Yes they do make a drapery lining as well as muslin.