Disgusted with kona fabric! Never never again!
 

Earlier in the year I made to Lonestar quilts. One was gifted and the other I put away to be quilted later. My step daughter saw the unquilted top and wanted it. So I quilted it and put it back for her christmas gift. When I washed it last week all the Kona darks had bled. After reading thread here about bleeding in the last few months I opted to use a different product to take of this problem because it was cheaper. MISTAKE! All of the Konas faded to a totally different color, not a different shade but a different color! I hate konas and will never buy them again. This is the second time I've had problems with this brand bleeding really bad. All the other fabrics were fine and maintained their true bright colors. UGGGGGG! Now I can't give this hideous looking thing to anyone! So Beware if you buy Kona. I even pre washed these fabrics. Pretty bad when wal mart fabric hold up better than name brand expensive stuff. I'm sick, just sick. Thanks for letting me vent, rant, and scream......I think I'll go pout some more, maybe take it out the driveway and run over it a few times.

Thank you for letting us know. I was about to order some but will go with another brand. I am so sorry that your quilt turned out so bad.

Lea I am so sorry to read about your quilt. I have a bunch of Kona Cottton that I have not pre washed so thanks for sharing your experience. I have only sewed with kona snow, black and white with no bad outcome. Yes, run over it a few times, I would be just as angry as you are.

that is awful-can you get a hold of some one where you bought it-I would be furious and want a refund.

Thank-you for sharing this valuable information. I would not have thought this brand , and type would have had "issues" and been inclined to proceed just as you did. Soo sorry this happened to you.

can you post pictures of the "after"?

Thanks for the heads up. I have only used black and white and did not prewash the black. Now I am really worried about it bleeding. I guess I better give the receiver of this quilt some information about washing it in case it does bleed.

How awful. I am soooo sorry this happened to you. UGH!!!!

I,m so sorry to hear about your quilt. After all that work, to have that happen.
Thanks for warning us about Kona. It's too bad it was at your expense.

Same here. I called and cancelled my order.

I'm so sorry that this happened to you, but I'm glad I read your note! I'm collecting Kona cottons for a hand appliqued top - I can't imagine how upset I would be to lose six or eight months worth of work in the washing machine. :(

You pre-washed them and they STILL bled when you washed the top? Please tell us which detergents and/or additives you were using when you washed them the first time and the second time, so we can stay away from them.

I'm so sorry. :(

Have you written to the company about the problem. Nothing changes unless we inform.

There are lot's of copycat "Konas" on the market. Not all are created equal!! Kaufman Kona is the real deal and anything else is not the same quality and is marketed to take advantage of people IMO. I've used Kaufman Kona for years with no problems.. Of course I prewash everything to avoid these situations. This is the exact situation that prewashing helps avoid.

For those of you that asked what kona, I'm not sure. All I know is that I paid almost $10 a yard at the LQS and I'm sure that it wasn't a knock off, she carries only name brand.

And I soon as it comes out of the dryer I'll post a before and after. I've decided to keep it for when you just need an extra quilt, you know house full of guests overnite, or curling up on the couch, or padding for moving furniture in the back of a truck.

My heart sure goes out to you! After all of that hard work and then to have the fabrics bleed/change colors! I'd be calling Kona and letting them know their products aren't holding up so maybe they can fix the problem before too many more projects are ruined. You have every right to rant and rave!!

wow, sorry to hear this. I've never used Kona that I know of but once I did have a red from a LQS that I thought would never stop bleeding. Actually, I think I gave up and didn't use it, can't remember for sure.

Suzy

I agree, there are different "Konas" available. The ones I have used have been great, little bleeding and they hold their color beautifully, even the black :) :) :)

this is the before

this is after, all fabrics that are still the same color are walmart brand, all the rest are Kona.

Wow. I've used Kona solids before and never had a problem with them. What did you wash the quilt with? That's a stunning color change.

Janet

That is some serious colour loss there. I've never seen that happen before. I do like the way it looks now though; I don't think it looks horrible at all, but obviously it is a complete change from the original and not how you intended it to look at all.

OMG I feel so bad for you, that certainly is a huge change !!! I would be sick about it too.

I didn't know that - thanks for the heads up.

Oh my goodness - where is the Navy blue? This is an insane amount of fading - even allowing for the difference in lighting. :(

It looks like it was bleached! Please tell us which detergent did this.

Well, that's good to know. The Konas I've been collecting are the Kaufman Konas on fabric.com. And they cost a lot less than what this poor gal paid at her LQS, too.

This is a heartbreaker.

Wow! What a difference in colors! Thanks for letting us know about this Lea. And I am sorry it happened to you. I know it's awful to say, but it makes you almost want to give away and quilt and tell the person"don't ever wash it!".

if it makes you feel better. I think that the oops's are looking okay. not as perfect as the original but still looking cool.

Nope its not bleach.

the fading is relatively uniform, agreed that it appears to have had some bleaching or a very strong detergent.

That is a huge change in color - it must be heartbreaking. Especially with a quilt that started out so bright. I am so sorry!

did the other quilt bleed when washed? what did you wash yours with? what product did your try to fix the bleed with? there are many variables in this. Kona is a very popular brand. if there were a serious problem with the fabric, i'm sure we would have heard the same from other members over the years.

We don't normally permit consumer complaints. the most common reason is that we get only one side of the story.

1. the shop owner hasn't seen it yet, so hasn't had a chance to investigate.
2. the manufacturer has not been verified or contacted so they can investigate.
3. we don't know which detergent was used; water temperature; or if there are any other factors involved that relate to the water supply.

anything is possible, so i could be that a faulty batch of fabrics escaped the quality testers at Kauffman's factory. but the fact remains we have heard only one side. as a result, people are cancelling orders and forming harsh opinions without all the facts.

I have also used the genuine Kauffman Kona many times over the years. I have never seen it bleed or fade.

If it's the genuine product, and if you can provide proof of that, I highly recommend you write to the manufacturer and send photos. They stand behind their product and would want to know about the event. I'm sure they would also attempt to mitigate your dissatisfaction somehow.