Kona Cotton Questions
 

Hi folks,

Can you all offer some information about Kona cotton? What is it? Is it made by several manufacturers? Are all Kona cottons the same weight? Do you use it for quilting? Do you have to be aware of anything special if you use it for quilting?

TIA

Cheryl

Kona cotton is wonderful solid colored fabrics made by the Robert Kaufman fabric company. There are places ( like Joanne's) that tend to call their solids ( Kona) even though they are not. For some reason some seem to think every solid fabric is a * Kona Solid* true Kona solids are colorfast, good color saturation, don't easily fade, have good body/ drape, are wonderful for quilting, piecing, applique & backings along with being good for other sewing projects too. And, they say Robert Kaufman Kona on the bolt

I bought some kona pfd and was very disappointed in the quality. It looks like cheap muslin. I am still thinking about calling the store where I bought it ( online) and asking if maybe they sent me the wrong fabric. I have ordered this same fabric before and it was a really nice weight.

Thank you. I have a Nancy's Notions flyer offering Kaufman Kona cotton @ $5.49/yd down from $6.49. Should I do some stash building at this price?

Cheryl

This happened to me, that's why I posted here for guidance.I'm going to make sure I buy only Kaufman.

Cheryl

CkCowl is right--be sure the bolt says Robert Kaufman. It is a wonderful smooth medium/heavy weight cotton perfect for quilting. I think it comes in over 300 different solid colors. I love it and use it all the time. I have ordered it from the fat quarter shop, thousands of bolts and fabric.com and always gotten the real thing.

Thanks! I'm a Kaufman woman now!

Thank you so much, this is very helpful. And, I've never heard of Fabric Shack so I'll check them out. Nancy's Notions isn't offering the full range of colors so I think I'll do better at Fabric Shack.

Cheryl

Pudge, thanks for asking this question, I was curious about Kona myself!

Oh, the Kona question was only the first of many I'll be asking. Jump in, there's a lot of smart people here to answer our questions! I've just become somewhat active on this board even though my avatar shows I joined in 2012. I've learned a lot by reading older posts and I've already been helped by others responding to my questions.

Cheryl

If you really want the answer to the Kona question, read this:

http://www.swatchandstitch.com/thequ...0kona%20cotton

Very interesting, thanks.

From the Robert Kaufman link Pudge kindly shared with us:
Robert Kaufman uses the same quality greige and dyes for all customers purchasing Kona Cotton Solids - all customers receive the same product. We have never produced a lesser grade of Kona for any customer. All seconds are rejected prior to leaving the mill.

Aha!!! I was right - there is no second quality Kona fabrics. Which means that the "Kona" sold in Joann's is not the real stuff (I've had disagreements with friends about this.). If it doesn't say Robert Kaufmann on the bolt it is not the real thing.

I purchased a bolt of the "real" Kona Snow several years ago at Mary Jo's in Gastonia, NC to use for red work. Just love the feel and the color is perfect - doesn't blind you with WHITE (yes, I did shout that). And the feel is terrific. Any of the colors is perfect for piecing, especially the white, snow, etc. because of its weight - no show through. Think I'll go get a bolt of the black one of these days (Hello, Santa - here's my list!!). And im going to reprint the Kaufmann info in my guild's newsletter to stop people purchasing all the crap fabrics.

Sandy in Mooresville, NC - up way way too late trying to learn/relearn how,to email pictures from my new iPad Air2

Wilferg thank you for that link. Nice information to have. It's great to be an informed shopper so as not to buy lesser quality. I love RK Kona solids. Great variety and quality

Well, this answers my question as to why my DGS's graduation quilt was heavier than the quilts I make. Three of the fabrics I used in the quilt were Kona solids -- red, black, and gray. This was a very interesting article. Thanks.

Ladyinpurple, have you ever used the Kona Ivory? I love it as much as the Snow. I don't like bright whites, so these are my go-to whites. I've also used Cream.

Just wondering....if JAF calls some of its solids KONA, and they are not mfgrd by Kaufman, I am presuming KONA is not copyrighted or patented or whatever the legal term for that word/process is and can be used by any distributor?????

I have been buying "dream cotton" from Marshall dry goods..it's only 3.99 a yard a has a wonderful hand to it..I like it as well or better than any Kona I've purchased.

What Kaufman was saying in its corporate response is that it is the sole manufacturer of Kona cotton and it provides the same quality of fabric to Joann's as it does to all other stores. People don't seem to want to believe that, but that's straight from the manufacturer, who ought to know...

AND, Kona is a registered trademark, so if it says "Kona", it's made by Robert Kaufman.

I buy Kona from Missouri Star Quilt Co....

I usually buy my Kona cottons from Hobby Lobby. They always have a nice selection on hand and I can feel what I'm buying.

I buy Kona black from Joanns whenever I get a good coupon. I have never had a problem with the quality, or had it bleed.

LOL Everything is hard to find in my neck of the woods! Nearest quilt shop is over 60 miles in any direction..so mail order works well for me. I think you'll enjoy the dream cotton..I like it a lot.

I love my Kona solids I have found really good prices at MSC and the colors are awesome, only had a problem one time because they were out of the steel gray I wanted.

I've had owners of fabric store say their black fabric is Kona, but know it isn't and won't buy it. Just because it is black they think they can get by with saying it is Kona black.

The Kona Cotton that is sold by JAF is what is called 2nd quality. Any numbers of problems with the fabric could occur and it has been sold to jobbers that then resale 2nd quality fabrics to mostly chain stores. That is the reason that the fabric is not on an original RK cardboard bolt because it is sold in 100 yards roll. I use to buy my Kona Cotton from JAF but then I bought some from a LQS and was amazed at the difference in color and weave. I now buy my Kona from Fabric Shack at $5.49 a yard and have all the colors available.

Just be certain to buy all the same dye lot you need at the same time. I have purchased RK Kona and then needed more of the same color to finish a quilt. It had to be ordered, so I was patient and didn't go to another LQS. When it came in a couple weeks later, I took my unwashed original piece with me to check the color match. The new bolts were a much different shade and when called, the mfr said that was the new dye lot color and the old one had been discontinued. Not too happy, I had to choose something else for the outside border. So, all I'm saying is be sure to buy enough at the start. :-)

People keep saying that but Robert Kaufmann says differently. Wish we could find out which is true.

That was my original thought, but all this yeah and nay has clouded my thought.

To those questioning JoAnns Kona. They have two other brands of solids that get mixed in with the Kona. Their Kona does say Robert Kaufmann and is the real deal. They just don't have a broad selection of colors. I've purchased it for years and would buy nothing but.

Aye, Joann's Kona is the real deal, assuming a sloppy storekeeper hasn't wound the wrong fabric onto the wrong bolt. I have (literally) put samples under a microscope and through washes and I can't see, feel, scrub, bleach or otherwise detect any difference between Kona purchased from Joanns, Fabric.com & a LQS. Plus Kauffman says they don't do 2nds...I've never found a slub or anything wrong with any Kona from Joann's so that sounds likely to me.

Although at my local stores, they recently jumped up their Kona from 7.99 a yard to 8.99 a yard, making it not such a great deal even with a 40% off coupon. And the selection is even worse than ever, I feel lucky if there are 4 or 5 Kona colors on the shelf. I wish Joann's would stop their weird "overpriced but use a coupon and it's reasonable" pricing schemes and would just price things reasonably right from the start. I would shop there more.

very well said, sewnoma!

I agree 100%!