I use the "amish black" from Keepsake Quilting. Very dense black and has a lovely feel to it, comes out of the dryer looking as good as when it went in!!

Most ALL of my quilts are done on black. A black background makes the other colors "pop". I have always used Kona Black, or the blackest they make. My only complaint about this fabric is it ravels badly. ~~Ann~~

Joanne's often has a lower thread count on some "brand" names.

Buy good quality black fabric (M. Miller jet black), the cheaper fabrics will be the ones to bleed and fade.

When I first wash a quilt, I wash it with detergent and vinegar. The vinegar helps set the colors.

I love twisters! Do you have any pictures?

I use cold water and woolite .

I use Kona black and haven't had any fading or bleeding problems.

I've bought it from Joann's and from Fabric.com and I can't tell any difference in the quality between the two. I don't think Kona comes in different qualities, it is the same fabric as far as I know. Just make sure you're getting Kona and not one of the other brands of solid fabric Joann's carries - they DO carry other solid fabrics that aren't Kona and sometimes they're mixed together on the shelves.

My mother taught me to presoak it in water with a generous amount of white vinegar and salt. I use tepid or cold water and mix in the salt first to be sure it dissolves first, then add the vinegar. It seems to work. Them if and when you wash it, use cold water.

Woolite makes a dark fabric laundry detergent.