My LQS has some fabric (top-quality goods) for around $12 - $12.95/yd. I don't buy much of it at that price. I have been called "The Queen of the Internet" for fabric shopping, as I love a bargain just like everyone else. And this is from a dear friend who works at the LQS. In fact, she informed me last night that her shop had recently received both some Kaufman AND some of the Kona that was NOT as high-quality as they had been in the past. And guess what? THE PRICE HAD GONE UP!:twisted:

I'm sorry, but there is something inherently wrong with that. I do not begrudge a company the opportunity to make a profit for good quality products. But I have a big problem with seeing my money spent on things that benefit other countries while my neighbors suffer without jobs.


I do my best to shop at the LQS whenever I can. Those ladies in there are my neighbors and if they are unemployed, who do you suppose is contributing tax dollars to provide for them? But I will not be badgered into purchasing a "name brand" when they don't even have the company pride to keep the quality at a high level. I refuse to pay more for less quality.

personal I don't like the feel of CT fabrics, the weave seems looser and the feel coarser. just mho

I haven't noticed, but thanks for the info.

is it possible that kona is making two different qualities?

believe it or not, the last time joanne (this is me, sticking my finger down my throat!) had a sale, i bought kona and it was delicious. great quality. i don't know what they did wrong.

The bolts of Kona Cotton I bought two months ago are all marked "Made in Thailand". The bolts of Kona Cotton I bought two YEARS ago are all marked "Made in Thailand". No change in country of origin or in quality of goods and actually a 9.5% DECREASE in price. The bolts I have of Moda Marbles, btw, are marked "Made in Japan".

I'm not aware that Kaufman is making two different grades, one for the chains and one for the quilt shops. I'd be rather surprised if they were doing that.

I don't think they are. The writer of the blog True Up (I love this blog!) writes that she asked this question of Robert Kaufman's director of marketing and was told that the Kona at Joann is exactly the same as the Kona you will find anywhere else.

I called Robert Kaufman and spoke to someone after they failed to reply to my e-mail, and when I posed the question to a Roy Castro he hung up on me. I called back and spoke to someone else who told me that they only sell first quality Kona and Robert Kaufman and that fabric is the same in all the stores that carry the lines. By law they cannot sell less than first quality without labeling it as such. The woman I spoke to from Kaufman whose name I neglected to get has promised me that someone will contact me. We'll see!

I couldn't believe it when I answered the phone a little after six last nite. A lady named Vivian from Robert Kaufman apologized for Mr Castro's rudeness and proceded to tell me that they only sell first quality goods. They do not deal "greige" or "grey" goods. Production in Pakistan ceased in '08. They moved production to Thailand and became aware of the quality problems with the two fabrics early on. Because they were unable to correct these problems they have now moved to mills in Indonesia. They can no longer produce goods in Pakistan as the mills are no longer available. She did not elaborate why. She said they have only one quality and sell the same to JoAnn's, Hancocks, LQS etc. They do not sell any lesser quality under the Kona or Robert Kaufman name.