Originally Posted by Sewnoma

I prefer Kona because it's a stiffer fabric so it's easier to work with. I use black Kona by the bolt all the time, and sometimes the white too.

People on here keep saying that Joann's Kona isn't the "real" Kona but I've had cuts from Joann's and cuts from Fabric.com at the same time and I did a careful comparison under bright lights and I can't tell the fabric apart. Same hand (feel), same thread count, same colors, same type of selvedge finish. Identical as far as I can tell. I mix them in quilts all the time and they wash/wear identically. Once I've cut the fabric off the bolt I can't tell if it's "Fabric.com" Kona or "Joann's" Kona. So I am convinced that they're the same. Joann's has it regular price 7.99; when I get a 50% off coupon (and their Kona isn't already on sale) I buy a bolt of black and/or a bolt of white, depending on how many coupons I have and which of them I'm running lowest on.

Joann's does carry "cotton broadcloth" and some other solids that are definitely NOT Kona - much thinner and coarser weave, and the colors look "muddy" to me. But the ones specifically marked Kona appear to be "the real deal", and if not then it's so close that I can't tell them apart even when I'm specifically looking for differences.