Which is better?
 

Those of you who have had experience with Joann fabric cotton please help me out, I don't know which to choose and which will hold up the best after washes...
-Its going to be the backing for a Queen size t-shirt quilt, it will be black since thats what my friend insists he have haha...
-My question is which one do I chose? I have read reviews but they aren't really helping me out so I thought I would ask you ladies :) Which of the following should I chose?

#1 65%Poly/35%Cotton blend broadcloth
#2 Sympathy Broadcloth
#3 Country Classic 100% cotton
#4 Legacy Studio solids 100% cotton
#5 Kona solids 100% cotton

Thanks for the help :o:shock::shock:

I have had very good results with Kona solids. Hope you have good luck. I hate to use to much black because it is hard to see your sewing.

I really can't talk about the blacks as I've never used them, but in those fabrics in WHITE, from Joann's, my preference would be the Legacy Studio.

Kona is my favorite if you can use a coupon. I would skipjoanns and order from fabric.com with a coupon though. Either kona or Bella solids.

Hands down Kona as long as it is Robert Kaufman's Kona cotton. JoAnn's has been known to put it on sale on occasion and coupons are nearly always available from JoAnn when it isn't on sale.

Symphony is a blend, it will not fade because it is 65% poly but it will not shrink either, so keep that in mind.
Kona is always good but could be expensive for backing since you need quite a bit of yardage.
Country Classics are thinner then kona and their weave is not as tight, but that being said, I think it would be perfect for backing. I use it for sashing as well. All 100% cottons will fade with washing, especially black.
I backed a quilt with Symphony broadcloth once and it turned out fine, but it does have a very different feel than all cotton fabric. I have not used Legacy Studio solids so I cannot really give any opinion on that fabric. I hope this helps.

Not to bring up a subject that's been beaten to death, please be aware that Kona has become sort of a generic term.

The "Kona" cottons in Joann's are NOT the same as the Robert Kaufman Kona Solids available at your LQS, unless the bolt says Kaufman.

Not all fabrics labelled Kona are created the same way, however the Kaufman brand has strict standards:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...tml#post746926

These differences aren't so noticeable on the white fabric, but can be on the colors and black.

I understand it can be a price consideration, but if you can, here are two fabulous black fabrics.

My preference is always the Michael Miller, but the Kaufman solid is another alternative:
http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item...Black--srcin-1

This black also has its fans (but I think that's just because they haven't yet tried the MM ):
http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/9738.htm

So glad to find links to these older posts! I will check out Hancock's of Paducah.

Ditto, ditto, ditto!!! And may I add: there is a HUGE difference between the non-Kaufman Kona and the Kaufman Kona. Kaufman Kona is a superior product, in my opinion.

i like roc -lon for muslin and kona for solids

Just to make it clear if it has Kona and the registered trademark Kona® Cotton . It is Kaufman Kona. Kona is a registered trademark by Robert Kaufman and no other company.

Kaufman Kona...but be sure it's Kaufman.

#4 Legacy Studio solids 100% cotton
#5 Kona solids 100% cotton


if you get #3 Country Classic 100% cotton get extra it shrinks a lot ( my experience was with black)

I vote for Michael Miller's jet black or a Kaufman Kona - remember a lot of fabric producers color their fabrics that do not sell black and are not good for a lot of washing. When picking black fabric always go with a brand name.

My experience with Michael Miller's black - it shrinks over two inches width of fabric.

My experience with the tea-dyed roc-lon muslin - it said 'pre-shrunk' on the end of the bolt - NOT!

I definitely recommend shrinking this stuff before cutting. it.

I did not know that about the Kona and JoAnn's! WOW!!! You really do learn something new everyday!

If this is a queen, I would want the 108" wide fabric. I don't like to piece my backs unless I have to. Joann's sell 100% cotton in solid colors that is 108" wide.

Your quilt top is 100% cotton, so your backing should also be 100% cotton. This way the fabrics shrink the same.

Just a word about black - it shows EVERYTHING! Every little bit of dust, pet hair, fuzz, lint - whatever. Black looks awful in no time. No matter how clean you think you are, stuff gets stuck on black and it looks dirty and worn. Maybe you can convince him to get a black print or stripe, but if you can talk him out of plain back, I would!

Kona solids

Kona solids or Michael Miller Black

For this project, though, I'd keep in mind that this is a t-shirt quilt which probably won't turn out to be an heirloom, so maybe the very best quality fabric might not be necessary for the backing. Also just as a caveat, I recently made a quilt with a plain black backing--took many hours to find and clip off the many little black threads on the back at the end, plus being able to find all the SITD lines on the back to be sure I'd sewn them all.

Just curious....I'm starting a t-shirt/baby fabrics quilt in memory of a baby girl who died of SID. The mom gave me lots of her baby clothes, even some still with tags on them, never worn. She provided a pink fleece type throw to use as backing. Is there a way I can stabilize the fabrics, make blocks, then add this backing to the quilt top and have it work out? I've not done something like this and an array of knit fabrics and even some with nylon-type ruffles or appliqued designs is a bit worrisome. I plan to do a simple block quilt and add a 'mama bird feeding a baby bird' applique (using ruffles for the birds bodies) as the focus design.
Suggestions are appreciated!

I recently had a rather lengthy Web conversation with a representative of KONA. She said that any company selling fabric and calling it KONA was in violation of copyright law.
She assured me that whether I bought fabric labeled KONA at Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's or a discount house, the fabric will absolutely be the same quality. She also said that she never failed to be amazed at the amount of misinformation that the sewing public, especially quilters, spread in the absolute belief that they are right. She also said that consumers who suspect they are being ripped off by a knock off company should contact Kaufman. I am absolutely certain that JoAnn would not knowingly sell a knock off and call it KONA. froggyintexas

I just bought 108 in. black from Joanns with a coupon.

Not all cottons shrink equally - some shrink not at all - some shrink a LOT!

I detest Joann fabrics But do not use any with polyester it affects the bobbin for your long armer She will hate you because it really affects that backing stich.

[QUOTE=quiltmom04;5613461]Just a word about black - it shows EVERYTHING! Every little bit of dust, pet hair, fuzz, lint - whatever. Black looks awful in no time. [QUOTE]

I think this depends on the type and texture of fabric you get. I used some black on the back of a quilt, and it did pick up every little thing. I was glad that fabric was on the back! On the other hand, I picked up some black cotton at Hancocks, it had a texture similar to that of cotton sateen, and it picks up nothing. It may very well be sateen, I honestly can't remember.