Is it my imagination?
 

I got a lot of fat quarters at an estate sale, and they are higher quality than anything I have ever bought myself. I am loving making sampler quilt tops with them. My question is about solids -- I buy the Moda or Kona, but they seem a looser weave than the prints. Is this true? I can't think of any reason, so it must be me...

I have thought the same thing. I love the colors of Kona Cotton Solids but they do seem to ravel more. I thought it was my imagination too.

I wash mine first, seems to tighten up the weave a bit. :)

I think kona is a broadcloth so it is a looser weave, not sure about moda solids as i haven't used them.

Ive never had a problem with either- but then again i hadnt noticed the change.. IM still using stash from a few years ago.. the older broadcloth is what i had issues with.. too thin..

What they call broadcloth at Hancock's is, I think, a cotton/poly blend. Is that what you mean? What brand should I be buying to get as fine a cloth as these prints (which are from different lines)?

OK, Kona cotton is 100% cotton made by Robert Kaufman. The best place to find it is Hancock's of Paducah @ $5.98 a yard. It is NOT a broadcloth which has polyester in it. You can see the cheap broadcloth they sell at the huge chain fabric stores that we all get flyers and emails from.

I use to buy broadcloth years ago to make shorts. It was never thin, I found it to be heavier than 100% cotton. I do think it had polyester in it, all of it's good qualities is why I used it for shorts. The old 100% cotton was almost impossible to iron the wrinkles out of.
I don't buy name brand fabrics as they don't seem to be better quality than the cheaper fabrics I buy. I always buy by feel.

at my not so LQS I found name brand designer fqs that were rough and open and personally not so nice of a 'hand' than some. I asked who they were made by, but they were in a tied bundle and she couldn't see. So I guess even name brand doesn't always mean quality?