I've been reading the threads and noticed people talking about using kona cotton. What is it? Is it a certain brand or manufacturer, or a particular type of cotton fabric? And why do you like it so much? Thanks. Just trying to learn all I can here.

Kona is a brand of cotton. They carry a wide selection of solid colors, Asian prints, etc. Some very nice prints.

I did a search and found this link that talks about Kona cotton

http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item--i-KC-CARD

I think it's a very nice cotton that I usually use in solid colors....don't know if they make patterns.

I love Robert Kaufman Kona cottons. They are wonderful to work with.

Just seems to hold the colors better :lol:

I love the feel of it-Kona cotton is very thick and is great for quilting. A board member just posted some for sale a few days ago and I purchased 12 yards-she had it for $3.99 a yard which is really a good deal for Kona.

Okay maybe I'm alone here but it's not my favorite, I think it ravels too much.

Kona is the only "good" grade solids I've used. I have a feeling Bella solids from Moda are just as good but I can buy *some* colors of Kona at Joann's with a coupon. For the rest I go to hancock's of paducah. I have a kona color card which is why I just buy that brand. If I had a moda solids color card I'd probably buy that brand too.

When I have bought fabric at Joann's and pre washed it, it gets all wonky. Fat quarters end up being like leaning parallelograms instead. I don't have that trouble with the quilt store brands. I suspect the less expensive solids at Joann's might be the same way.

Joann's sells Kona, but it is not the Kaufman Kona. If you ever had them side by side, you'd see there is a noticeable difference. Kaufman is much nicer. It irons up so much better, nicer feel too. I've seen the Kaufman Kona on sale online for about $4 per yard. With the recent increase, I'm sure that will go up, but I would imagine Joann's will raise their prices soon too.

I recently read a blog post where someone actually called Kaufman fabrics and asked specifically if the kona cotton at Joann's was the same. They were told it was exactly the same. I'll try to find the blog post. I do have both (from Joann's and from a quilt shop) and have compared them side by side and they feel the same to me.

That was quick. I found the post-it's the question right after the picture of the color card.

http://www.trueup.net/?p=2070

I actually never bought it at Joann's before I read this because I was sure it was not as good but after seeing that, I started buying it there.

Does the one at your Joann's say Kaufman on the bolt? The ones at my local Joann's do not (but the Kaufman Kona Muslin does specifically say Kaufman on the bolt). The stock may vary by store.

Yes they say Kaufman Fabrics Kona Cotton and the color name, which has so far always corresponded with the same color swatch on my color card.

At our store they have the Kona cotton bolts mixed in with the stuff called "Quilter's Cotton" so I have to check every bolt to make sure I'm not getting the wrong stuff.

That's the difference then. Some Joann's sell the Kauaman brand and some just sell their own brand of Kona. Their own brand is similar to the Quilter's Cotton you mention. Not nearly as nice as the Kaufman.

This is not quite accurate. Kona ® Cotton Solids brand is made by the Robert Kaufman Co., Inc. and is solids only. The other Kona fabrics that you mention are the products of Kona Bay Fabrics. They are not the same company at all.

That same question came up on the board earlier this year. You can find a much more detailed and verifiable response that the Robert Kaufman Company posted directly to our members here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-33854-3.htm#746926