Kona has the best I have found. Here is a link to Dharma Trading.

beverly

Here is a link that might be useful: Dharma Trading Co. Kona black

I also recommend Kona. I do believe my JoAnn's carries it as well, but the Dharma price is the best, especially if you need to order a bunch.

I would go with Kona too. My Joann's does carry a few Kona solids, including black. As far as I know, it only comes in one weight, but you can get it in 44"w or 60"w.

I've recently been working with Kona white and really like the feel of it. I think it would be a great choice for a pp background, especially in black for batiks!

Kate

Thanks for the Kona testimonials - I will look harder for it at Joanns - mostly I've seen a broadcloth cotton/poly blend. That area of their store frustrates me - it is next to the mish-mash-markdowns of buyer-beware-who-knows-what section that I avoid. I'd like to start my BOM and need the solid black.
If not, I will order it online -

There is a Kona black heavier than the regular one. It's much denser black. It is more expensive at the LQS. So, if you look around online and a shop has two grades, buy the more expensive and that is probably what you'll get. I have some of each and there is a difference.

Our JoAnne's has Kona and it goes on sale often. Your best deal on it, however, is to use one of their deep discount coupons when it isn't on sale, because those coupons do not usually cover items already on sale. It irritates me that most of the quilting material is already 'on sale' so you can't use coupons on a cut of it. That's no coincidence.

Kona's pretty thick and sturdy stuff compared to batik. It's noticeably thicker and more coarse than most regular quilting cottons even, and if you've already rejected one fabric based on texture I bet you'll have the same problem with Kona. I got what I have from JoAnn's, and take note that the dye lots vary quite a bit. If you're doing a quilt with a lot of black, make every effort to buy all you need, and extra, from one bolt. I have several yards of various black fabrics from trying to match my original black after I messed up cutting. I have a few yards of a black sateen that is matte on the back but it's got a slight charcoal green cast to it or I'd try to send to you. I have left over black coming out my ears.

Michael Miller makes a double dyed black called Jet Black that is finer, blacker, and my QS owner said was pretty consistent across dye lots. I've read various places that it uses a black dye, instead of just a combination of other dark colors. You know how blacks can fade out to blue-black or green-black? Jet Black supposedly won't do that. It's high price stuff ($7/yd online at Hancock's of Paducah) and I didn't pick it for making a black cathedral windows, but it might be worth it for your project.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jet Black

I agree I need to get enough from one bolt - also a problem at Joanns - for my Stack-n-whack class, I absolutely needed it all to be from the same full run - not pieced (as you stack and whack down one side of the fabric's repeats)and I only needed about 6 yards, chose a brand new bolt that still had the wrapper on it and it had several sewn together pieces which not only messed up the repeat, but they wanted to charge me for the sewn together unusable pieces. Don't get me started on Joanns.............I've stated before, I need to be in the right frame of mind to venture in there ~lol~ already in a bad mood is the perfect time. And the coupon thing is always an issue :)

Petalpasty - Thanks for the insight on the hand of the Kona - what I rejected
for the whole quilt is coarser - and since I am PP, alot of work, the black needs to have the same texture. To make it more complicated, I have 2 BonB's that I can use for the sashing like blocks in between the PP that will blend with any black as long as it is a true black.
I looked up the Jet Black - it looks nice - I think I'll give the LQS a call.
Thanks so much.

I'm not a fan of Kona cottons, unless the whole quilt is made from them. It has a coarser weave (60x60 threads per square inch) than quilting cotton. It also has a coarser feel than most batiks. I just never felt it played well with other fabrics.

Hancock's of Paducah has a black batik. I have a fat quarter of it, and while it is slightly mottled, the palest color is a pale black or a very, very dark gray. So while it might not be solid, it's black, and reads as such.

Just got back from visiting Joanns and Hancocks (of going out of business?)not of Paducah-no suitable black or anything else.
I saw the Kona cotton at both stores and the weave is too coarse for the batiks and to light in color for the black on black I would like to use. In fact, it looked like a charcoal. I looked at everything they had, and neither store had sufficient yardage anyway.
I am going to look for the black batik at HofP and try to get to the LQS tomorrow. Thanks Mary!

MGR - if you would like, I can send you this black FQ. It came in a pack of 50 FQs, and the darkest and lightest will not be making it into the quilt I'm doing.

Send me an email with your address, and I'll get it off to you.

What timing! I just ordered the Sylvia's Bridal Sampler book and want to start making the blocks with black backgrounds.

FYI--the Michael Miller jet black link has the fabric at 50% off--$3.49/yard.

Anyone know how much background fabric is needed for the Sylvia's quilt? I just know the book will arrive as soon as the fabric goes off sale.

Dianne

Did you check the Moda Bella Solids? I have never used them for PP but the ones I have used have a wonderful silky feel to them.
Hancocks of Puducah carry them and if not mistaken the Bella solids are less expensive than Kona.
Just a thought for you.
Murphy

Just happened to be on fabric.com. I "just happen" to spend a lot of time there! Anyway, their Moda Bella black is $5.98 a yard. I've heard others speak highly of it, but haven't used it myself.

dian - the link is $3.49 per HALF Yard - unless you saw a different source. If you did, please share. It looks like a few people have the book. From the previous discussion, I started reading the Elm Creek series (I'm on #3)- Now I get it. I put a hold on "Sylvia's Bridal Sampler" at the library. I am 5th in the line (so it will be a long while - that's okay.)

I called LQS - they have a few solid blacks, I am going to try to get there before they close, so I'll let you all know.

The problem, I made a B'day Block using the Connecting Threads Black - the black looks spectacular (DH even noticed the contrast - he usually has no opinion). I only bought a yard to test the fabric & add to my stash. Compared to everything else I am finding, the richness of the black outweighs the tighter weave I would prefer for what adds up to about 28 blocks and more (I was going to buy 7 yards). Life is full of compromises-I decide to order more this morning-Connecting Threads doesn't carry it anymore. I'm flexible - so one more look see at the QS. In fact, if the price is close to the online prices, I really prefer to support the small shop to keep them in business.
Thanks to all who share our expertise.

Here is a link that might be useful: Previous Sylvia's Discussion

I just checked Sylvia's Bridal Sampler book and the yardage she gives if for beiges which she used as background and in many of the block: Wording:Beiges:10yards
(includes 2 1/2 yards for the sashing and the inner border).
Not sure if this helps.
Jayne

I'm back. The update on the "Perfect Black"- after calling the LQS - yes we have several different blacks - they lied :). They had 2 bolts in a store that boasts of having 6,000 bolts!!! Moda Marbles and Kona Premium. I ended up buying the Kona Premium - premium because it was $9.00 yd -and in a quilt shop :). It was the right color when I took it outside to compare - cloudy day, but what the heck! It was smoother, more tightly woven, and darker black then the multiple bolts I looked at last night for $5.99yd at Joanns & Han. It was also labeled as Jet Black & made in Japan vs Thailand. So whether it is really a premium cotton, better quality then the cheaper, I don't know. But, I bought it, I'm washing it right now, and I'm going to use it and it better come out of the washer twice as nice as the cheaper stuff.

Thanks everyone who offered help and to send me your blacks. If I didn't need so much I would have accepted. I'll be posting a picture of the blocks on Kate's 2010 Bom/Ba thread when I get one completed for this month.

$3.49 for a half yard. That hardly seems fair.
I guess there's no rush after all. I'll wait for the book to arrive. If I come across a to-die-for black, I'll pick up 12 yards.

Thanks for looking the yardage up for me, Jayne.

Dianne