Comparing Quilting Cotton Solids
time for an update!
About every four years I chime in with an update comparing quilting cotton solid fabric lines on the market. In the last years I’ve developed some new favorites. 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 quite affordable. If you are matching a particular hue, Kona Cottons has many options from which to choose, though Bella solids has even more.
Number of Colors: 365
Color Card: $40, widely available
Cost: $7.50 per yard, at Fat Quarter Shop
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.
RUBY + BEE SOLIDS
This solid fabric line is co-created by Heather Ross and Annabel Wrigley for Windham Fabrics. Ruby + Bee does not have a ton of colors, but they are a lovely array. These clear, saturated rainbow colors are quite cheerful, perfect for children’s projects and modern homes.
Number of Colors: 70
Color Card: $105, a card swatch set on a ring
Cost: $9.00 per yard, at Fat Quarter Shop
Weight/Hand: 4 oz. per square yard, soft and lux, lighter than most quilting cottons, but heavier than Art Gallery Pure Solids
Notes: The line is Oeko-Tex certified.
FREESPIRIT DESIGNER ESSENTIAL SOLIDS
This solid fabric line is co-created with Freespirit’s popular designer, Tula Pink. The color count has been reduced in the last years, but if you are Tula fan, this one is for you - Designer Essential Solids.
Number of Colors: 80
Color Card: no longer available
Cost: $9.00 per yard, at Fat Quarter Shop
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: 88
Color Card: no longer 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 lovely luster and drape.
Number of Colors: 120
Color Card: $45, widely available
Cost: $10.00 per yard, at Fat Quarter Shop
Weight/Hand: 3.7 oz. per square yard, lightweight for quilting cottons with slight luster
Notes: Manufactured in South Korean mills that are Oeko-Tex and GOTS certified. 200 thread count.
TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~
Little Fabric Shop
Quality modern fabrics, including a vast array of fine solids: Bella Solids, Cirrus Solids, Peppered Cottons, Century Solids and Warp & Weft Hue.
TILDA SOLIDS
Since moving to Europe I have often been sewing with Tilda Solids. Tilda Fabrics is a Norwegian company. The colors in the solid collection are nuanced and mature, rather than bright and saturated. These are especially suited to elegant or traditional homes.
Number of Colors: 50
Color Card: not available
Cost: $12.00 per yard, at Fat Quarter Shop
Weight/Hand: 4.9 oz. per square yard, soft and substantial with a nice drape
Notes: Manufactured in South Korean mills that are Oeko-Tex certified.
BELLA SOLIDS
Moda makes the largest line of quilting cotton solids at this time. 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: 473
Color Card: $18 printed fabric panel as color card
Cost: $8.50 per yard, at Little Fabric Shop and Winter Creek Cloth
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. 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: 210
Color Card: $40, widely available
Cost: $8.00 per yard, at Quilt Sandwich
Weight/Hand: 4.4 oz. per square yard, lustrous and smooth
Notes: Manufactured in Korean mills that are Oeko-Tex certified. At the company website click into each color to find matching info for Aurifil thread.
CENTURY SOLIDS
Century Solids is Andover’s solids line. I have just started working with a few cuts for my current project. The fabric feels very stable and smooth, like Art Gallery, but crisper and heavier.
Number of Colors: 100
Color Card: $40, widely available
Cost: $9.00 - 10.00 per yard, at Little Fabric Shop and The Confident Stitch
Weight/Hand: 4.4 oz. per square yard, smooth and slightly crisp
MY THOUGHTS
I use a variety of solid fabric brands, depending upon the vibe of my project.
For bright or saturated projects, I look to Art Gallery Pure Solids or Ruby + Bee Solids. Ruby + Bee is a particular favorite for sewing a rainbow. Art Gallery makes many special shades. Although I was hesitant about Art Gallery’s lightweight substrate, I have gotten used to it and now mix it freely with all my quilting cottons in patchwork, without any trouble.
Tilda Solids makes several colors which particularly speak to me, such as Peacock and Soft Teal. I love how their colors combine as backgrounds with my stash in general. Plus, Tilda feels a little more lux than Kona or Bella. I still pull out Kona or Bella if I need to match a particular color, and I have no preference between the two, as they feel and look the same to me.
I do really like Painter’s Palette Solids, but haven’t sewn with them for a while.
I don’t personally prefer the slightly crisp feel of American Made Brand or Century Solids. However, if you like to starch your fabrics to increase precision, you may really love the feel of these.
Just this week I wanted to match the orange color in this photo. I pulled out all of my swatch cards and combed my stash to alight on the best match. And that’s the bottom line - ultimately for me color is king.
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!
Really appreciate your sharing this, Rachel. I plan to link to it in my next newsletter.
I have been wondering if there are any resources matching a line of quilting solids to DMC embroidery colors. Do you (or any fellow readers) know of any?