Compare 10 top quilting fabric brands with honest reviews, specs, and side-by-side comparisons from real quilters
Kona Cotton by Robert Kaufman is the quilting world's workhorse solid. With over 365 colors in the collection, it has become the default choice for quilters who want reliable, consistent fabric at a price that won't break the bank. The weave is tight and even, pressing beautifully under an iron and holding seam allowances without fraying excessively during piecing.
Bella Solids from Moda Fabrics are the second most popular quilting solids line, and for good reason. With over 300 colors, the range rivals Kona and includes several shades that quilters swear have no equivalent in other brands — the Moda "Etchings Charcoal" and "Betty's Blue" are legendary on quilting social media.
Art Gallery Fabrics has carved out a premium niche in the quilting world, and their Pure Solids line is the crown jewel. With over 200 colors in a curated, design-forward palette, every shade feels intentional. There are no filler colors — each one was selected to work harmoniously with Art Gallery's print collections and with each other.
Riley Blake Designs has built its reputation on vibrant, family-friendly print collections with a distinctly American aesthetic. Founded in 2008, the Utah-based company quickly became a favorite among quilters who gravitate toward cheerful florals, geometric prints, and themed collections that range from holiday motifs to licensed characters.
Free Spirit Fabrics occupies a unique position in quilting: it is the designer-driven brand. While other companies have broad catalogs of basics, Free Spirit lives and breathes through its roster of celebrated designers — and none more famous than Tula Pink, whose bold, eclectic prints have generated a cult following that transcends traditional quilting demographics.
Michael Miller Fabrics has been a staple in quilting and garment sewing since 2000, and their Cotton Couture line stands out for one technical differentiator: thread count. At 78x78 threads per inch, Cotton Couture has a noticeably smoother surface than standard 60x60 quilting cottons. The result is a fabric that feels more refined under your fingers and produces crisper points and seams.
Andover Fabrics is the heritage brand of quilting, with roots stretching back to the 1890s. While other companies chase trends and social media visibility, Andover has carved out a distinguished niche in reproduction fabrics — historically accurate prints that recreate the patterns and color palettes of quilts from the Civil War era through the mid-20th century.
RJR Fabrics is a community favorite that has quietly built one of the strongest reputations in quilting. Their Cotton Supreme solid line, with over 200 colors, is often cited in online quilting communities as the "sleeper hit" — a brand that does not get the marketing push of Kona or AGF but consistently impresses quilters who discover it.
Windham Fabrics occupies a versatile middle ground in the quilting fabric market, offering both heritage reproduction prints and contemporary modern collections. Founded in 1987, the New Jersey-based company has built a diverse catalog that serves traditional quilters, modern makers, and everyone in between.
Timeless Treasures has built a distinct identity in quilting through two specialties: batiks and wide-format prints. Their batik collection is one of the largest in the industry, offering hundreds of colorways with the characteristic hand-dyed, wax-resist patterning that gives batiks their organic, one-of-a-kind quality.
Kona Cotton wins on color selection and availability, while Bella Solids edges ahead on hand feel and drape. For most quilters, the deciding factor is which print ecosystem you work with — Kona if you mix-and-match, Bella if you buy Moda designer collections.
This comparison comes down to budget versus luxury. Kona delivers reliable quality at an unbeatable price. Art Gallery Pure Solids offer a genuinely superior hand feel and color depth, but at 30-40% higher cost. For everyday quilting, Kona. For show quilts and special projects, AGF.
Art Gallery offers the premium experience with unmatched hand feel and color saturation. Moda Bella Solids provide excellent quality at a lower price with stronger designer ecosystem integration. Both are excellent — AGF if quality is paramount, Bella if you want great value with designer coordination.
Cotton Couture is the "upgrade" pick — better thread count, smoother hand, less shrinkage — at a similar price point to Kona. Kona wins on color range and availability. If your local shop carries Cotton Couture, try it; you may never go back.
This is a print-driven comparison more than a solids comparison. Both brands live on their designer ecosystems. Riley Blake leans family-friendly and cheerful, Moda leans sophisticated and curated. The solids (Confetti Cottons vs Bella) are comparable in quality, so choose based on which designers and aesthetics speak to you.
Kona Cotton by Robert Kaufman is the most recommended fabric for beginners. It is widely available, affordable ($9-12/yard), referenced in most tutorials, and has a crisp hand that is forgiving during cutting and piecing. Start with Kona White, Kona Black, and 5-6 colors you love.
It depends on your preference. Prewashing removes sizing and preshrinks fabric, preventing puckering after the first wash. However, unwashed fabric is easier to cut accurately and holds its shape better during piecing. Many quilters skip prewashing for wall quilts but prewash for bed quilts that will be laundered frequently.
Standard quilting cotton has a 60x60 thread count, which works well for most projects. Higher thread counts (68x68 to 80x80) found in brands like Art Gallery Fabrics and Michael Miller Cotton Couture offer a smoother hand and less fraying, but at a higher price. Thread count matters most for show quilts and garment sewing.
A baby quilt (40x50 inches) needs about 3-4 yards total. A throw quilt (55x65 inches) requires 5-7 yards. A queen-size quilt (90x100 inches) needs 9-12 yards for the top and 8-9 yards for the back. Always buy an extra 10-15% to account for shrinkage, cutting errors, and pattern matching.
Quilting cotton is specifically manufactured for patchwork: it has a tighter weave (higher thread count per inch), consistent weight (typically 4.0-4.3 oz/sq yd), and is treated for colorfastness. Regular cotton apparel fabric may be too lightweight, stretchy, or loosely woven for accurate piecing and long-lasting quilts.
Use QuiltLab's free swatch editor to test color combinations before you buy. See how Kona, Bella, and AGF solids look in your pattern.
