What is your favorite fabric
 

I am having a hard time finding solid color fabrics that aren't as thin a paper. Sometimes I wonder if they will even make it through one washing. So I was wondering what you buy that you can't read through.

I usually buy solids that have just a little texture for just that reason...

I am currently piecing with Kona Cotton solids. The only problem is that they do unravel more than they use to.

If you are asking about solids, I love Dream Cotton and Moda Bella Solids (which are really the same thing.)

Wow, paper?? Where do you shop?

"thin as paper" - heavyweight cardboard? onion skin? 1/2 inch thick cardboard rolls? tissue paper?

My apologies to the original poster - - - - -I was unable to resist. :p

Have you tried the line called "American Made Brand" fabrics? They look to be as nice as the Kona solids. Check with your LQS. Also available on Amazon if I recall.

Northcott is my favorite solid brand but hard to find.

The following read as solids and are heavier: Shadow Play by Maywood Studios, Plaster of Paris by Frond Designs, and Moda Grunge, and Northcott. I have been very pleased with their hand and also the shading of the solid color. Good luck at finding something that fits your needs.

I found Marshall's Dry Goods Cotton Dream is excellent quality for solids. I like it better then Moda or Kona.

I don't buy many solids nowadays (you should see my stash of solids). Most of what I have are RJR, Moda and Marcus Brothers. I bought most of these because they matched my 30's. When I am looking for black I always go with Kona. RJR also has a good black call Amish black. They don't have gray overtones. They are all 100% cotton. I bought all of them at a LQS. (I worked there)

You can pick any fabric, put it up to the window and you can see through it...you can't read through it but you can see.

Solids are less expensive as printed fabric but still they are an investment. If I am working on a quilt that is special I want the best fabric...come to think of it all my quilts are for a special person or charity.

Get Kona solids by Kaufman

Kona by Kaufman are really nice. My latest favorites for solidish fabric are the Moda Grunge line.

I'm sold on kona solids, they are heavy, 300 plus colors, and they supply a color card so you can choose an exact match to what you want , not what you see on the computer. On sale they sell for about $5.84/yd. But if Dream cotton is heavy, and its price is $3.99/yd I might switch if I can figure how to purchase the correct color.

All of them...

Susan

I use Kona Cottons or the Moda Bella. I do prefer the Konas though

favorite fabric
 

Moda muslin is $5:00 at lqs ,great quality. Marbles and prints have also have a nice thickness and feel to them. Diane C.

Check in and around Amish country. They have different weights to them. I am in the progress of making a quilt and am using the heavier fabric, which would probably be used as a summer jacket or a daytime work dress. My aunt got it in Amish country and what she didn't use she gave to me. All the colors, all the weights.....sheer heaven to work with these different fabrics - all cotton. Good luck. I have mentioned this quilt shop before. It is in Intercourse, Pa. We were there several years ago and the fabric is outstanding.

Edie

I rarely buy solids but a blender fabric that can go either way. My favorites right now are Connecting threads Mirage and Maywood's ShadowPlay. Moda's Grunge may be added later.

When American Made solids first came out they were a very nice weight. Soon after, they were rather thin and didn't compare to their first efforts. Growing pains I suspect.

They seem to be back on par with the big names Kona, Bella, etc. If you haven't tried them recently I would recommend trying them again. I like the fact they are farm to fabric made in the USA.

That was a good question!

When I was looking for a particular teal of Kaufman Kona to finish a quilt in which I was using up the last I had, I found my laptop did not correctly portray the colors I was viewing so I couldn't buy more. I have a Moda Bella color card so I began to compare it with solids I have that I also knew were Konas. I was surprised how much more 'dull', grayed, washed out the Bellas were compared to Konas.

Kona bugs me that it ravels so badly; the threads often get in the way of my piecing and make me worry the quilt will come apart when it is washed several times. But their colors are better than nearly anyone! I have tried Connecting Threads before and liked them. Have just ordered some and will try to remember to come back here to report on the latest 'hand' when they arrive.

Jan in VA

I love Kona for my solids.

I believe Hancock's of Paducka(sp) sells American made brand and I bought some, it was nice even after I washed it.

Have you tried Hoffman's Indah solids? They are batik dyed fabrics - but solids! Not mottled. Their batik fabric has a tighter weave and I think they feel sturdier and less transparent than typical printed cottons.

http://www.hoffmanfabrics.com/produc...-indah-solids/

Thanks everybody for all the opinions. When I say thin I mean hold it up toward a light & you could read a newspaper through it. Not good. This is the way a friend age 91 chooses fabric or not. At that age I think she knows what she is talking about. LOL. I used to love Kona, but the last I bought was not as heavy as a few years ago, Moda is not being made as well either. I used to buy my solids at Hancock fabrics, now closed, & even their fabric was very thin. I have ordered from Connecting Threads & it wasn't bad, but still not what I wanted. I have ordered from Fabric.com, Marshall's Dry Goods, & so many other's I would have to look to see. I will try Hancock's of Paducah suggested by Carol34446 & UncleGravy (by the way, love the name).

I do not like the American made at all. I remade half a quilt after using that. It was horrible fabric. I like the real Konah, not the stuff Jo Ann sells.

Timely topic for me. I'm piecing a top using some Connecting Thread solids, and while I like the feel of them, the raveling is really annoying. Sounds like Kona has the same problem. I'll try some of the others mentioned in this thread.

I have decided that when I use the whites or the blacks that they have shadows (maybe swirls, stars, dots, etc.) They add a touch of texture but are still white or black or red or blue, etc. They put in the color but still have some interest and they have a heavier weight of the fabric...some of the just plain one color fabric is really, really thin.

I like Kaufman Kona Solids and Moda Bella, and think the Kona is woven from slightly heavier threads but a little more loosely woven, the Moda Bella is "finer", softer and silkier. But I like both brands and buy based on color and price.

I bought black solid fabric from Connecting Threads for my AOTH quilt and I wasn't real happy with the weight of the fabric but it was a good solid black and I did enough applique, embroidery and quilting that the quilt turned out heavy enough you didn't notice how thin the black fabric was. I usually buy my solid at my LQS so I can tell exactly what color I am buying.

Oops -- posted to the wrong post.

I use Kona if I have to use solids but prefer the tone on tone because they don't seem to ravel as much.

Try Michael Miller. I have been happy with his solids.

Kona cottons ( from quilt shops, not Joanne's) Bella solids and American Made are the ones I use most often

I have not found a solid fabric that does not ravel terrible. I have had good luck with the waverly solids. I cannot tell the difference from quilt store solids when they are side by side. I used to love Moda solids but they ravel just like most other solids.

I have found Connecting Threads solids to be good. Overall their fabric has a nice feel esp. for the price.

I do know what you mean about the thin fabric. When I shop at Fabric.com I always get good quality fabric - I go back there more than I should :)