For those of you who use Kona...
 

I need to order some solids and like Kona....but I am just not sure about the shades. I need a bright red....like a primary red, basic black and white. Is there anyone who can help me with the shade of red I need? Just not sure if it is tomato red, cherry red, chinese red.....geez, so many choices! I was just handed a repair job and I don't have any of the original fabrics, nor do I remember what the shade was. And nobody close to me carries Kaufman Kona, so I have to order.

Fabric Shack will sell 1/8s of a yard (or at least, they did awhile ago). I would just order 1/8s of any that seem like a possibility. It is my experience that no website consistently has accurate representations of color across the board, so I very rarely buy a large amount without buying smaller amounts to audition first.

Some online shops will send swatches. Ask.

You can order a Kona color card. Or check around at your LQS and quilting friends, someone may have one that you can look at.

Could you ask the "sender" if they could email you a picture of the quilt? Good luck with it!

I have the Kona Card. There are a variety or Reds:
Tomato
Cardinal
Red
Chinese Red
http://www.robertkaufman.com/fabrics/kona_cotton/
Yes, I buy most of my online fabric from Fabric Shack and they do cut 1/8 of a yd. Purchases under $75 are shipped in priority envelope for $3 in the USA.

Can you give me the name of a bright primary red shade....I can't trust my monitor to be correct....don't want orangey reds or pinky reds.....just red!

Fabric.com will send swatches so you can match colors. I think I've seen a few other shops who are offering swatches too.

Here is what I did. I took a little of my fabric and sent this to Fabric.com (because I bought my fabric from this) to make sure that I was buying the same fabric. This matched it perfect. Here is what the told me. Every bolt of fabric can be a little different. So when you buy you have to look at the bottom of bolt to make sure it comes from the same dye lot. Thank God my did.

If you use Kona a lot it would be worth your time to get a Kona solid color card. The card has actual swatches of fabric

I love my Kona color card. You can get them through Hancocks of Paducah.

I needed to match a cream color and did not remember the color name. I sent a sample of MY fabric to Hancock's of Peducah and they did the matching for me. They even sent my sample (about 2" x 3") back with the order. That is wonderful customer service!

Even if you were able to get the exact fabric it probably wouldn't match due to possibly being washed or just fading. Get as close as you can; I'm sure they don't expect it to be exact - or at least I'd hope not. Reminds me I have a patch job to do too.

In my opinion, the Red is pinky and the Tomato is on the orange side. I would choose Cardinal but it might be a little dark red for you.

I like the red for a basic color red. I don't think that it is pinky. Others are too dark for me.

Thanks everyone for your help! If I had more time, I would order the sample card, but I really need to get this started.

This has been my experience with Kona. But my purchases were many years ago, so that may be different now.

Here is a block I recently made using Kona Lipstick, very bright red, no orange or pink tone. Also, no grey or black to darken. To me it seems about as close to primary red that you can get - http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...2_195342-1.jpg

https://secure.missouriquiltco.com/s...pstick-yardage

If you're in a rush, honestly, I would just order a half yard of a couple shades, pick the best match, stash the rest, and then order the rest of the quantity you'll need. At least a half yard will be enough to get started while waiting for the rest. Also, generally MSCQ is super fast on ordering and if you put your order in usually it ships same day and will be delivered within 2 days. Might not be the most cost efficient way, but if you're in a rush to get started, it might work, oh, and get the color card either way. If it so happens none of the shades you try work, it will save you another few days of waiting for a shipment.

For me, MSQC is one of the slower shippers. It usually takes a full week or more after ordering before I get a shipping notice.

Interesting, I was thinking the same thing about Hancock's of Paducah... I guess it depends. I almost always get a same day shipping notice. You'd think yours would be quicker since you're closer...

I wouldn't purchase the sample card again. I have a sample card and I still had an issue with differences in dye lots to the point where a midnight blue became a really dark purple which was a nightmare for trying to get my daughters school dresses made in time with all the back and forth on purchasing fabric and getting the wrong colour.

For your red, I would go with their colour "red". It's the closest to a primary red.

Fabric.com will also allow you to return fabric at no cost. I recently purchased 5 different fabrics when I needed 3 but I wasn't sure which I wanted; I returned the 2 that didn't work. No problem. I love dealing with them.

I order all my solids from MSQC. When you receive them they come with the color code on them. I leave that label on the plastic baggie or the fabric so that if I need more, I can use that # to reorder. I also add the color and manufacturer to the label to make it even easier to identify.