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.

I much prefer Kaufman Kona and find Moda Bella a bit of a disappointment. It frays a lot and it doesn't have the pizzas that Kaufman Kona has. No problems bleeding with Kaufman Kona and I used many different colors. I have not had any with the Bella either.

Thank you all for your reply. Now I am wondering if you all prewash in warm, hot or cold water.

I prefer Moda Bella solids - softer drape. I find Kona too coarse and heavy especially when used with other quilt shop quality fabrics. No problems with running.

I generally pre-wash in water somewhere between medium and hot. (My machine has 10 temperature settings, I use #7) I'm not sure if the temperature really matters, but I figure that's the hottest water I'm likely to wash a completed quilt in, so that's what I use for the fabric too.

Exception would be for fabric intended for baby quilts - I assume those are going to suffer accidents that require occasional hot water washes, so I do all my pre-washing of the fabric and of the completed quilt on the hottest setting, just to make sure it's going to stand up to that sort of treatment. If I decide to use already pre-washed fabric from my stash in a baby quilt, I don't re-wash it though.

Nanachar: My ALWAYS routine is to prewash all fabrics for the quilt ALTOGETHER with RETAYNE and hot water as written on the directions. I then machine dry until almost dry, watching so as to not to overdry. I've used only KONA many times in red, black and white together and never had problems with bleeding once I've done that prewash. Quilts look nice when finished. Good luck.