Red, Black & White, Kona vs Bella
 

I am starting a quilt for my grandson. He wants it to be solid red, black, his school colors. I will add white or a very light gray to the Radiant pattern. I am looking for feedback from those who have use Kona Cotton or Bella Solids in those colors. I will use Retayne color fixative, but I still wonder about bleeding after washing. Has anyone had a problem with either of these companies when using very dark colors or any other suggestions for color fixative?

I have used both brands in black and white but not the red. Kona, IMHO has a slightly heavier hand to it but both brands are extremely nice. Some have complained of excessive fraying with Kona. I have not noticed it fraying any more than any other brand, again MHO. I have had no issues with bleeding from the black. I buy both regularly but for black and white I tend to gravitate to Kona because of the slightly heavier feel to it.

I have used the Kona in those colors but I am a pre washer so have never had a bleeding problem. I did not use the Retayne just washed with regular detergent. Good luck with your quilt.

My impression is that Bella frays more than Kona (it seems like a slightly looser weave to me). I haven't used black or red, so can't comment on the color fastness. I prefer the finer weave of the Michael Miller cotton couture solids.

I made a red, black & white D9P out of Kona. I pre-washed everything with just normal detergent (my normal procedure) and that was it for pre-treating. Zero bleeding! I totally trust Kona, I've been using it a few years now and have never had any bleeding at all.

This photo isn't best quality, but this is the quilt just before I gave it away - I wash my quilts 2X in the washer before I give them away, so this is how it looked after two washings as a completed quilt. :)

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Sewnoma, thank you for your reply....I am a believer when I see it in black & white...and red! Thanks for going the extra mile for another quilter...you guys are the best!

I've made a couple black and white quilts using Kona. I always wash them after quilting and didn't have any bleeding with those.

I actually prefer Bella. To me they are a bit softer and feel better.

I use Bella most of the time because it's what my favorite shop sells. But for white, I generally order Kona online, because I like the color better than any of Bella's whites.

I use lots of black----both Kona and Bella and never had any bleeding issues with either. I don't use red nearly as much, but use lots of solids from both lines and can't ever recall an issue. Most of my experiences with dye problems were with batiks.