Cheap Kona Cotton
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Davenport, Iowa
Posts: 4,357
Awhile back an online store offered a 3 yard pack of Kona Cotton for a reasonable price, I bought 2 packages and thought I got a bargain. Used a pack of it in my latest quilt (Honey Buns on the pictures section).. Turns out it was thin and not the usual Kona that I've purchased before. It will take me a two hours to trim the strings off the backside of this quilt. Have always loved Kona cotton, but sure was disappointed in this order. From now on I'll only buy Kona from a brick and mortar store where I can see and feel the weave of it. Some quilters will only use Kona, some Bella, and others like Confetti Cottons. What do you think is the best??
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,259
I switched to American Made Brand cotton a few years ago. Is grown, woven, and dyed in the US. They have more and more colors all the time, primarily I buy black and white and have found the pieces consistent/interchangeable between buys.
It does have a different hand than Kona, but for me Kona seemed to vary in weaves/weights although the colors were super consistent. I'd say it (AMB) s fine woven but seems lighter and maybe shinier.
Many places sell it, here's a better than usual set of options:
https://www.missouriquiltco.com/coll...can-made-brand
the link is interesting to watch
It does have a different hand than Kona, but for me Kona seemed to vary in weaves/weights although the colors were super consistent. I'd say it (AMB) s fine woven but seems lighter and maybe shinier.
Many places sell it, here's a better than usual set of options:
https://www.missouriquiltco.com/coll...can-made-brand
the link is interesting to watch
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,681
Probably not American Made, but, I have had good luck with the premeasured Waverly fabric at Walmart. Of course selection isn't as vast or fun as a quilt shop, but, for solids and some prints it has been very easy to work with, for me, just speaking for myself.
#5
Marshall Dry Goods carries their own Dream Cotton which is woven on the same kind of loom as the Kona -- can't remember the name of the loom. But it has the same weight and hand as Kona for about 2/3rds the price.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: The Finger Lakes of upstate NY
Posts: 3,819
Robert Kauffman has responded to the enquiries about Kona many times. There is only one. No differing qualities for different stores.
As mentioned in a previous thread, I found Kona to be horrible to work with. I did a bit of an experiment with several different brands of white fabric. If you want to see them, you can view the pics, videos and comments here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2001936&type=3
As mentioned in a previous thread, I found Kona to be horrible to work with. I did a bit of an experiment with several different brands of white fabric. If you want to see them, you can view the pics, videos and comments here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2001936&type=3

