comparing Quilting Cotton Solids
Time for an update! In recent years I’ve had the chance to test more quilting cotton solid fabric lines. Here is my updated and freshly organized report.
We have many choices when shopping for quilting cotton solids. The best brand for you will depend upon your needs and priorities. Here is a comparison of solid fabric lines with which I have personal experience.
Kona Cotton Solids
Like many, I started sewing with Kona Cotton solids. They're widely available and produced in tons of colors. If you are matching a particular hue, Kona Cottons has the most options from which to choose (Bella solids is a close second).
Number of Colors: 365
Color Card: $40, widely available
Cost: $7.50 per yard
Weight/Hand: 4.35 oz. per square yard, durable, substantial weight and texture.
Notes: Manufactured in Korea/Indonesia/Thailand. The line is Oeko-Tex certified.
Freespirit Designer Essential Solids
This solid fabric line is inspired and co-created with Freespirit’s most popular designers, including Tula Pink, Kaffe Fassett, Anna Maria Horner and Denyse Schmidt. If you love one of these designers, you’re likely to find your favorite hues in this beautifully curated collection - Designer Essential Solids.
Number of Colors: 100
Color Card: not currently available
Cost: $8.50 per yard
Weight/Hand: 4.2 oz. per square yard, soft and lux
Notes: Manufactured in Korea
American Made Brand Solids
Once I made an entire quilt in American Made Brand solids. The colors are nice, but limited. The best thing about this brand is that it is grown and manufactured entirely in the United States. If you live in the U.S., buying this brand reduces your carbon footprint and has all the other benefits of buying local.
Number of Colors: 75
Color Card: $13, widely available
Cost: $9.00 per yard
Weight/Hand: 4.32 oz. per square yard, lightweight and a bit stiff
Notes: Grown, spun, woven and dyed in America.
Art Gallery Pure Solids
If you sew with many Art Gallery fabrics, you know that they are lighter than most quilting cottons. So too with the Art Gallery Pure Solids. They are thinner than other brands, making this line a good choice for Art Gallery fans. These solids have a luster like Freespirit solids, but they are lightweight like American Made Brand solids.
Number of Colors: 120
Color Card: $30, widely available
Cost: $9.00 per yard
Weight/Hand: 3.7 oz. per square yard, quite lightweight for quilting cottons with slight luster
Notes: Manufactured in South Korean mills that are Oeko-Tex and GOTS certified. 200 thread count.
Hoffman Indah Solids
The Hoffman company is admired for their environmental responsibility. At the Hoffman factory in Bali, a modern water-filtration system returns rinsewater clear to the environment (see video). This is a unique and forward-thinking system that has been in operation for more than a decade. The solids are dyed in the same facility.
The Hoffman Indah Solids colors are vivid and even. The fabric is considered a poplin. It is lighter than Kona and Freespirit and crisp as compared to Art Gallery.
Number of Colors: 54
Color Card: not available
Cost: $9.00 per yard
Weight/Hand: lightweight for quilting cottons and a bit stiff
Notes: Woven and hand dyed in Bali, Indonesia from a very fine size 40 thread
Moda Bella Solids
Moda’s solid line is quite comparable to Kona Cotton Solids. Bella Solids are the same weight as Kona, the same price and have the same hand. I would be hard pressed to tell them apart! If you sew with many Moda Fabrics (which includes Ruby Star Society), many collections offer suggested coordinating Bella Solids. Visit the Fabrics Downloads page on the Moda website to look up a collection’s Swatch Page for coordinating solid suggestions.
Number of Colors: 324
Color Card: $17 printed fabric panel as color card
Cost: $7.50 per yard
Weight/Hand: 4.35 oz. per square yard, feels durable and substantial like Kona
Notes: cotton is grown in the US, but fabric is manufactured in Korea
Painter’s Palette Solids
Are you looking for something with lots of body and a subtle sheen? I made matching quilts for my girls with Painter’s Palette Solids in 2018. Those quilts washed and wore so well, with the colors remaining bold and beautiful. This line is slightly heavier weight than Kona or Bella, but it feels the most lux. It resists fraying too!
Number of Colors: 168
Color Card: $20, fairly available
Cost: $7.30 per yard
Weight/Hand: 4.4 oz. per square yard, lustrous and smooth
Notes: At the company website click into each color to find matching info for similar Kona colors and Aurifil thread.
My Thoughts
Choosing based on color and feel, I prefer Freespirit Designer Essential Solids. I hope they update/re-release their color card soon and become more widely available. Almost all of the solid colors that have particularly spoken to me have been made by Freespirit. My other big favorite is Painter’s Palette Solids. I prefer the feel of a more substantial weight solid and tend to sew with similar weight printed fabrics.
If you sew more with lightweight fabrics like Art Gallery or want to mix solids with voile, the lighter weight Art Gallery Pure Solids would be a better match. Having a consistent weight fabric in your quilts can improve durability. I respect the Hoffman and American Made Brand ethics, but don't prefer the feel of their fabrics. I have no preference between Kona and Bella, as they feel and look the same to me.
None of these brands are poor choices! Each one is a high-quality product that you can expect to be colorfast and durable. They will meet different needs for different people. I hope this comparison is helpful!
