Do You Use Solids In Your Quilts?

Do you quilt with solid fabrics? If so, do you create quilts from all solids, or do you mix them in with other fabrics?

The question arises from a comment on my recent post about quilting rules. The comment (from my sister) said one of her rules is no solids. Huh.

I don’t use solids a lot, and in truth prefer tone-on-tone prints. I think they offer more depth and interest, while solids can read rather flat. But solids have a long history with quilting, from the classic red, white, and green quilts of the early 1800s, to the Amish, to contemporary quilting.

When I do use them, it’s typically as one more source of color in a quilt with many types of prints. However, I have made a couple of quilts that were of only solid fabrics.

Daughter’s medallion in solids. 2014.

Branching Out. 2015. Photo by Jim Ruebush.

A question often comes up about solid fabrics sold at chain stores, like JoAnn Fabrics. JoAnn’s sells solids under two or three different labels. One label (brand) is Kona Cotton Solids. Are Kona solids at JoAnn’s the same as Kona solids at a quilt shop? If you buy something called “Kona” at the quilt shop, it also will show the maker as Robert Kaufman. JoAnn’s doesn’t say that.

Who makes JoAnn’s Kona solids? Are they made by Robert Kaufman or some other manufacturer? Are they Robert Kaufman second-quality goods?

Bonnie Hunter’s Quiltville blog addressed this question in 2014. Bonnie and Robert Kaufman answered definitively. I encourage you to read the whole answer provided by Robert Kaufman. However, I’ll summarize here:

1. Robert Kaufman makes ALL Kona Cotton Solids, regardless of retailer.
2. ALL Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton fabrics distributed are first quality. Seconds are destroyed.
3. If you find fabric labeled as Kona Cotton Solids that appears to be of lower quality, the company would like you to mail them a sample.

Where should you buy your Kona Cotton Solids? Many of us like to patronize our local quilt shops, ensuring their success to keep them in our communities. Many of us like the coupons and sales offered by JoAnn Fabrics, or the convenience of shopping various vendors online. As with most of the rest of my fabric purchases, I will continue to buy at JoAnn’s now and then, and make sure I support my local shops, as well.

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Kona Cotton Solids

I’m working on a small quilt made of solid fabrics — no prints. I don’t mind mixing prints and solids, but this one is intended to have an old-fashioned Amish feel. Some of the fabrics were purchased at JoAnn’s, and some were from local quilt shops.

JoAnn’s sells solids under two or three different labels. One label (brand) is Kona Cotton Solids. The question comes up regularly about the maker of JoAnn’s Kona solids. If you buy something called “Kona” at the quilt shop, it also will show the maker as Robert Kaufman. JoAnn’s doesn’t say that.

Who makes JoAnn’s Kona solids? Are they made by Robert Kaufman or some other manufacturer? Are they Robert Kaufman second-quality goods?

This morning in the Stashbusters Yahoo site (group forum), someone posted a link to Bonnie Hunter’s Quiltville blog. Bonnie and Robert Kaufman answered this question definitively. I encourage you to read the whole answer provided by Robert Kaufman. However, I’ll summarize here:

1. Robert Kaufman makes ALL Kona Cotton Solids, regardless of retailer.
2. ALL Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton fabrics distributed are first quality. Seconds are destroyed.
3. If you find fabric labeled as Kona Cotton Solids that appears to be of lower quality, the company would like you to mail them a sample.

Where should you buy your Kona Cotton Solids? Many of us like to patronize our local quilt shops, ensuring their success to keep them in our communities. Many of us like the coupons and sales offered by JoAnn Fabrics. Hobby Lobby also has carried Kona solids, but I don’t shop there anymore. So as with most of the rest of my fabric purchases, I will continue to buy at JoAnn’s and make sure I support my local shops, as well.