Colorworks vs Kona: Which Solid Precut Should You Buy?
⚡ Quick Answer
- Who makes them: Colorworks Premium Solids are made by Northcott. Kona Cotton Solids are made by Robert Kaufman.
- Color range: Kona is bigger, with more than 360 colors. Colorworks has 241.
- Feel: makers often describe Colorworks as silky and Kona as a sturdy, thicker weave. Many makers use both.
- Precuts: both come in 5″ squares, 10″ squares, 2½″ strips, 1½″ strips and fat quarter bundles, under different names.
- The short version: choose Kona for the widest color range. Choose Colorworks for a silky hand and bigger fat quarter bundles. They sew together happily.
Every quilter ends up with a favorite solid. It’s the background behind your stars, the sashing between your blocks, the black that makes a rainbow glow. For a lot of quilters that solid has been Kona for years. Lately more of you are asking about Colorworks Premium Solids from Northcott, and whether it’s worth switching.
We carry both, so we put them side by side. Here’s how they compare on color, feel, precuts and bundles, plus what makers who sew with both have told us.
Key Takeaways
- ➤Kona wins on range. With more than 360 colors, Kona is the place to go when you need one exact shade.
- ➤Colorworks wins on bundle size. A Colorworks Roll holds 20 fat quarters. A Kona fat quarter bundle holds 12.
- ➤They’re built the same way. Both are 100% cotton, both are OEKO-TEX certified, and both come about 44″ wide.
- ➤The feel is different. Makers often call Colorworks silky and Kona sturdy. Try a pack of each before you buy a bolt.
- ➤You don’t have to choose. Makers mix the two in the same quilt, especially for whites and backgrounds.
Colorworks vs Kona at a Glance
| Colorworks Premium Solids | Kona Cotton Solids | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Northcott | Robert Kaufman |
| Colors | 241 | More than 360 |
| Fiber | 100% cotton, OEKO-TEX certified | 100% cotton, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
| Yardage width | 43″/44″ | 44″/45″ |
| 5″ squares | Chips (42 squares) | Charm Packs (42 squares) |
| 10″ squares | Tiles (42 squares) | Ten Squares (42 squares) |
| 2½″ strips | Strips (40 strips) | Roll Ups (40 strips) |
| 1½″ strips | Micro Strips (40 strips) | Skinny Strips (40 strips) |
| Fat quarter bundle | Rolls (20 fat quarters) | Fat Quarter Bundles (12 fat quarters) |
| Color card | Colorworks Colorcard | Kona Color Card |
Piece counts are for our standard packs. Specialty packs vary, so check the count on each listing.
How They Feel
This is where quilters' opinions vary the most, and truth be told, it comes down to your own personal preference. Robert Kaufman describes Kona as a thicker weave that adds structure to patchwork. Northcott describes Colorworks as having a luxurious hand. In practice, makers who have sewn both tend to describe Colorworks as smoother and silkier, and Kona as sturdier.
“Thick like Kona, which is my usual solid preference. Didn’t fray. Easy to finger press during piecing. Beautiful color. Used as background in a quilt.”
— Charlotte P. on Colorworks Liberty Blue, verified buyer
“These Colorworks solid fabrics are comparable to other quilt shop quality solid fabrics. I mixed them with Kona, Bella, Free Spirit and Riley Blake solids and they were of comparable quality with similar degree of fraying. The colors are lovely.”
— Michele on Colorworks Stone, verified buyer
Not every maker agrees on weight. Some find Colorworks just as substantial as Kona, and others find it a little lighter. A lighter solid can be a plus when you’re pairing it with lighter prints. The easiest way to decide is to buy one pack of each in the same color and handle them side by side.
Color Range: Kona Is Bigger, Colorworks Is Curated
If you need to match one exact shade, a team color, a thread color, or a fabric already in the quilt, Kona’s range gives you the best odds. Kona precuts also come in lots of themed palettes, and we carry the Kona Color of the Year packs.
Colorworks precuts lean toward the colors quilters use most: White, Snow, Eggshell, Black, Ultra Black, Navy, and Smoke. There are also curated medleys like Rainbow Medley, Sorbet Medley, Vibrant Jewels, and Jamboree. Every one of those can be found in our Northcott precuts collection.
💡 Pro Tip: Buy the color card for whichever line you use most. Both the Colorworks Colorcard and the Kona Color Card contain real fabric swatches, and screens can’t show you true color the way a swatch in daylight can.
Neutrals and Backgrounds
Most of the solid fabrics you buy will probably be used as sashing or background fabrics, so here’s how the neutral precuts line up:
| You want | Colorworks | Kona |
|---|---|---|
| A crisp, bright white | White | White |
| A soft white, less stark | Snow | Snow |
| A warm cream | Eggshell | Not Quite White or Bone |
| A true black | Black or Ultra Black | Black or Coal |
| A gray | Smoke | Ash |
These are the neutral precuts we stock today. Snow is a good example of why you don’t have to pick one brand:
“The snow color is a perfect match to Kona snow fabric in the patchwork. Phew Quality looks good.”
— Linda N. on Colorworks Snow Strips, verified buyer
💡 Pro Tip: If you mix brands in one quilt, prep them the same way. Prewash all of it or none of it, so everything shrinks together.
Which Should You Buy?
Choose Colorworks if…
- You like a smooth, silky solid to piece with.
- You want more fabrics in a fat quarter bundle (20 instead of 12).
- You’re pairing solids with Northcott prints like Stonehenge. Shop them together in Northcott precuts.
Choose Kona if…
- You need one exact shade, and the widest range gives you the best chance.
- You like a sturdier solid that adds structure to patchwork.
- You want themed palette packs or the Color of the Year.
And if you can’t decide, do what plenty of makers do: keep both on the shelf. Use one line for backgrounds and pull the other when you need a particular color.
Prefer yardage? Shop all Colorworks Premium Solids or all Kona Solids.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes Colorworks fabric?
Colorworks Premium Solids are made by Northcott, the same company behind the Stonehenge line.
Is Colorworks the same as Kona?
No. Kona Cotton Solids are made by Robert Kaufman. Both are 100% cotton quilting solids, but they’re different fabrics with different color ranges.
Which has more colors, Colorworks or Kona?
Kona. It has more than 360 colors, and Colorworks has 241.
Can I use Colorworks and Kona in the same quilt?
Yes. Makers mix them regularly, especially for backgrounds. Prep them the same way (both prewashed or neither) so they shrink together.
What are Colorworks Chips, Tiles and Strips?
They’re Northcott’s precut names. Chips are 5″ squares, Tiles are 10″ squares, Strips are 2½″ strips, Micro Strips are 1½″ strips and Rolls are fat quarter bundles.
How many fat quarters are in a Colorworks Roll?
Our Colorworks Rolls hold 20 fat quarters, about 18″ × 22″ each. Kona fat quarter bundles hold 12.