"Which solid should I buy?" is the most-asked basics question in quilting, and the honest answer is: it depends which program you're building your stash around. Linda's carries the three big ones — Riley Blake Confetti Cottons, Moda Bella Solids and Robert Kaufman Kona — and they are not interchangeable. Here's how they actually differ.
Confetti Cottons — The Deep Bench at Linda's
With 280+ active colorways at Linda's, Confetti Cottons is our largest solids wall, and at ~$8.48/yd it's also the best value of the three. Riley Blake dyes Confetti to match its print collections exactly — so if you sew Riley Blake prints (Lori Holt especially), Confetti gives you dye-lot-level coordination no other solid can. The hand is smooth and slightly crisp, excellent for precise piecing. Start with Riley Red, Charcoal, Daffodil and Dandelions, or browse the full Confetti wall.
Bella Solids — The Moda Companion
Moda's Bella program (75 colorways at Linda's, ~$9.00/yd) is the softest hand of the three — slightly lighter weight with beautiful drape, which is why Bella is the default background for Moda collections and the favorite for quilts meant to be washed soft. Bella 9900-200 Off White is arguably the most-used background fabric in America. Start with Off White, Lead and Turquoise, or browse all Bella Solids.
Kona — The Modern-Quilting Standard
Robert Kaufman's Kona is the heaviest and most opaque of the three — the structure modern quilters want for big negative-space quilts. Linda's carries a focused Kona selection (Breeze, Willow, the Premium Muslin Optic White, and specialty Kona Sheen glitter) at $9.20–11.49/yd.
The Cheat Sheet
Sewing Riley Blake prints or want maximum color range per dollar: Confetti. Sewing Moda or want the softest wash: Bella. Modern solids-only quilts needing body and opacity: Kona. Mixing programs in one quilt is fine — they're all quilting-weight cotton — just prewash together since they shrink slightly differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix Kona, Bella and Confetti in one quilt?
Yes. Weights differ slightly (Kona heaviest, Bella lightest) but all piece together fine. Prewash everything together to equalize shrinkage.
Which solid is best for quilt backgrounds?
Bella Off White and Confetti's whites/creams are the classic choices for print-heavy quilts; Kona takes over when the solid IS the quilt and needs to hold structure.
Why is Confetti Cottons cheaper?
Riley Blake prices its solids program aggressively to pair with its prints — same quilting-cotton quality class, better price. It's the best solids value on our shelves.
