Kona Cotton "Spotting"
 

Hi! I was wondering if anyone had trouble with Kona cotton spotting when coming in contact with water. I purchased 6 yds for a customer quilt and when I went to iron it, water from my iron left spots on the fabric that looked like I had sprayed bleach on it!. Once it dried, the spots have gone away. I don't pre-wash, so I cut a square and just soaked it with water. It looks fine once dried, but if you spray water on it, it still spots. I purchased my fabric on line and then tested the same Kona color from my quilt store. They both act the same. I am scared to use this in my customer quilt as I don't know what will happen when she washes the quilt. Any help would be much appreciated!!!!

I have used Kona Cotton for over I think twenty years. I never have noticed any spotting when steaming it with my iron nor do I prewash. I have bought my Kona cotton at quilts stores and JAF. JAF may be second quality fabric but quilt stores only buy directly from Robert Kaufman which is 1st quality. You can always go on their website and send them an e-mail about your concern. I have seen some nice comments on Moda's solid line. You might check into that fabric to make sure your customer is totally satisfied. Good Luck !!

Does your water have heavy lime?

That's what I was going to ask. Sometimes my iron will spit out white stuff on my fabric.

No, I use reverse osmosis water in my iron. The color is Shale. I have never had a problem with fabric before. I bought this fabric from fabric.com. I will call them tomorrow. I didn't find anything on Google.

This really sounds to me like it is more an issue with your water than the fabric. Especially when after it dries you see no evidence of spotting.

Since it looks fine after it dries I do not think I would worry about it.

I've seen the same thing on my Kona Forest Green, it is a quilt for my daughter. I washed the fabric, and it is fine.

I see it all the time - goes away when it's dry, so I don't worry about it.

I've seen some light-ish spots on Kona black when ironing. I think it's only when there's some dampness - after they dry out you can't see anything anymore.

I've washed a couple lap quilts made with Kona black countless times (we have very snuggly dogs!) and there is no spotting/fading going on.

I think it's probably fine. :)

I don't think it is my water as I took some material to work and used the water there also. Same thing happened. I was going to call fabric.com, but they were closed due to weather. I will try to call them tomorrow. I think I will go ahead and wash the fabric and see what happens.... Thanks for all the responses!

It happens to me, too. More so on some colors than others, but it happens. Everything looks fine when the quilt is washed and dried, so I quit worrying about it. The first time it happened I nearly had heart failure on the spot, though.

I've had fabrics whose tone seems to darken when ironed. They have all recovered those when they cooled/dried.
MaryKatherine

It happens on a lot of Kona colors, and on Moda and other solids as well. It probably also happens on prints, but you just don't notice it because of the pattern. It's a fact of life, but has never resulted in a permanent change of color in my many years of using Kona Solids extensively.

If you want a reliable, definitive answer, call Kaufman directly, not fabric.com.

Kaufman does not make seconds per an earlier thread here on the Quilt Board. Someone had contacted them and they asked to become a member so they could comment directly.

I had some Kona beige batik that did that but the spots disappears when it dries.

I have found that bright KONA colors will darken with heat from the iron (I dont use water) but I have never noticed discoloration, temporary or otherwise. I have bought from JAF and LQS and internet shops.

This is funny as I bought some Kona from HL & had the same thing happen I was baffled as was grand daughter. I thought maybe HL put the fabric on an empty Kona bolt, but in the end the spot did disappear. My spot was the mirrored image of my iron. I thought I scorched it some how with only a few seconds on the material?? Glad to see this on the board.

That's how I realized that I have to clean my iron again. One of my Kona Reds has ugly spots on them. Hope they come out after the wash.

I have had some colors of Kona do this but once washed, they were fine.

Just don't leave it out in the rain

I am glad I am not the only one this has happened to. I did call fabric.com and that conversation went nowhere... I did wash the fabric and it still discolors when I ironed it. I will attempt to contact Kaufman and see if they can explain this to me. Thanks again!