Kona/Bella/Confetti Cottons
04-09-2021, 02:11 PM
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Cascade, Co
Posts: 1,391
I find Kona to be somewhat weightier than the others and haven't used it much; Bella solids seem to me to fray a bit more than the others, but a wonderful range of colors; Michael Miller cotton couture line is a higher thread count and very silky; the Art Gallery line of solids has that almost papery feel that all of their fabrics have, and I would guess their thread count is also higher, and their colors are more avant garde, as are the Free Spirit line of solids; I think Confetti cottons is the Riley Blake brand, so, happy colors, and they get very soft after washing; Centennial solids is the Marcus reproduction line of solids, if you're looking for toned down versions.
For me it comes down to -- who has the exact color I want? I shop for them at Fat Quarter Shop; I just choose 'solids' from their 'fabric by theme' option and put a ton of selections of various brands in my cart; from there, you can then view the thumbnails and compare between them to fine tune. Once I've narrowed it down, I'll often order the minimum 1/2 yd. of a few; just to be sure it's what I want (they are not always as they appear on the monitor).
For me it comes down to -- who has the exact color I want? I shop for them at Fat Quarter Shop; I just choose 'solids' from their 'fabric by theme' option and put a ton of selections of various brands in my cart; from there, you can then view the thumbnails and compare between them to fine tune. Once I've narrowed it down, I'll often order the minimum 1/2 yd. of a few; just to be sure it's what I want (they are not always as they appear on the monitor).
04-10-2021, 07:07 AM
#22
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
peace and joy...you made detailed comparisons, thank you.
I work in an LQS, recently owner has been guying Bella for her go to solids. We do have some Michael Miller, Riley Blake, American Made, and Kona as well. One thing I will say about the American Made...we have had bolts fade on the fold line...more than likely from the overhead lights, but if it fades there it will fade any where. I have never been pleased with the weight of Am Made either. Love the way M Miller feels.
I work in an LQS, recently owner has been guying Bella for her go to solids. We do have some Michael Miller, Riley Blake, American Made, and Kona as well. One thing I will say about the American Made...we have had bolts fade on the fold line...more than likely from the overhead lights, but if it fades there it will fade any where. I have never been pleased with the weight of Am Made either. Love the way M Miller feels.
04-10-2021, 03:44 PM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: The Finger Lakes of upstate NY
Posts: 3,468
Personally, I don't generally care for solids in quilts, with the exception of the background. Even then, I tend to use many low volume or fabrics that read as neutral. I'm just starting two quilts that use one constant background, making both king size. The first is Patchy Stars, using Spring Brook by Corey Yoder. The second is Serendipity, a sew along by FQS. I am using the suggested background - Thatched in navy - but the other fabrics will be switched out. Using so much of one fabric in a quilt is daunting - I'm more of a Bonnie Hunter or Becky from Quilted Twins type of quilter.
04-11-2021, 07:22 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 432
Thanks all for the great information. I do love the Art Gallery prints so I will give their solids a try. Like one of you mentioned I match the colour if I can without regard to which line. But....most LQS underdandably have limited lines and don't offer every colour in the solid range.
I relied heavily on the Kona swatch card (which at the time was the only one out there) when I started doing Round Robins through the mail with distant quilting friends. We could keep on the same page by saying "all prints must coordinate with colour x" from the swatch card.
Now there are a gazillion solids out there, and a bunch of swatch cards. I am a sucker for solids collections!
***There is one huge advantage to quilting with solids, and that is the cost savings. Solids are up to half the price of prints.***
I relied heavily on the Kona swatch card (which at the time was the only one out there) when I started doing Round Robins through the mail with distant quilting friends. We could keep on the same page by saying "all prints must coordinate with colour x" from the swatch card.
Now there are a gazillion solids out there, and a bunch of swatch cards. I am a sucker for solids collections!
***There is one huge advantage to quilting with solids, and that is the cost savings. Solids are up to half the price of prints.***
Last edited by WesternWilson; 04-11-2021 at 07:25 AM.
04-11-2021, 07:43 AM
#25
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
Like you peaceandjoy I seldom use solids. I am more likely to use a fabric that reads solid but gives a little more depth to the piece.
04-11-2021, 02:25 PM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: The Finger Lakes of upstate NY
Posts: 3,468
My next test on these fabrics will be for shrinkage. I am not a prewasher. Currently working on a quilt that is a combination of Moda Spring Brook and Art Gallery Pure in Snow. Just the steam from the normal pressing is causing the seams to pucker a bit, and the only reason I can come up with is that the AGF must be shrinking significantly more? Disappointing, if I find this to be the case, as the feel is amazing.
04-11-2021, 04:39 PM
#27
Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 1
I have purchased Bella “Black” several times and am totally amazed that no color came out!! Yes, I prewashed with a color catcher and “YAY” no color on the catcher. Would be interesting to find out everyone else’s results with various colors. So sad about the red bleeding, that is very disheartening.
04-11-2021, 05:40 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: California
Posts: 959
I mostly buy Bella solids because of the range of colors.
Last year I purchased a couple of Art Gallery solids from an online store. Silky before washing. After washing it softened up. Not sure I would purchase again.
One of my favorite backgrounds in white/cream printed muslins. These are a little more expensive that straight solids, but I love the little bits of print. One of my favorites that I purchased several times was a light honeycomb design.
I tend to mix solids into quilts or use a solid background when I have a really scrappy quilt so the eye has a place to rest!
Last year I purchased a couple of Art Gallery solids from an online store. Silky before washing. After washing it softened up. Not sure I would purchase again.
One of my favorite backgrounds in white/cream printed muslins. These are a little more expensive that straight solids, but I love the little bits of print. One of my favorites that I purchased several times was a light honeycomb design.
I tend to mix solids into quilts or use a solid background when I have a really scrappy quilt so the eye has a place to rest!
