Warm and Natural vs Hobbs 80/20 Batting: Which Should You Use?
Choose Warm and Natural if you want flat, sturdy 100% cotton you can quilt up to 10 inches apart; a king 4-pack costs about $176. Choose Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 for a softer, more drapey blend with about 1/8 inch loft and 3 to 5% shrinkage; a queen costs about $29, but quilt it within 4 inches.
Warm & Natural Cotton Batting, King (4 Pack) $175.77 Check price on Amazon The verdict
Warm and Natural is the better batting for wall hangings, table runners and quilts with sparse quilting, and Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 is the better batting for soft, cuddly bed quilts that you plan to quilt fairly closely. The single most useful number is quilting distance: how far apart your stitching lines can be before the batting shifts or bunches when washed.
Warm and Natural is 100% cotton needle-punched through a thin scrim, a stabilizing base layer, which is why The Warm Company says you can quilt or tie it up to 10 in apart. Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 is 80% cotton and 20% polyester, needle-punched and lightly resin bonded, and should be quilted up to about 4 in apart. Neither is "better" in the abstract. Match the batting to your quilting plan.
Warm and Natural vs Hobbs 80/20: side by side
| Feature | Warm and Natural | Hobbs 80/20 |
|---|---|---|
| Representative product | Warm & Natural King 4-Pack | Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Queen |
| Price | About $176 for 4 king batts | About $29 per queen, about $44 per king |
| Fiber | 100% cotton | 80% cotton, 20% polyester |
| Construction | Needle-punched through a scrim | Needle-punched, lightly resin bonded |
| Max quilting distance | Up to 10 in | Up to 4 in |
| Loft | Low and flat (4 oz per sq yd) | About 1/8 in |
| Shrinkage | Up to 3% cold wash, about 5% warm | About 3 to 5% |
| Precut sizes shown | King 120 x 124 in | Queen 90 x 108 in, king 120 x 120 in |
| Drape | Firmer, softens with washing | Softer and more drapey |
Which is better, Warm and Natural or Hobbs 80/20?
Owners frequently describe Warm and Natural as dense and flat, which makes it a favorite for wall quilts that need to hang straight and for projects where the quilting is sparse. It is also heavier and firmer, and many quilters say it softens after the first wash. Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 is the one quilters reach for when a bed quilt should feel soft and drape over the edge of a mattress.
Price per quilt is closer than it looks. The Warm & Natural King 4-Pack works out to about $44 per king batt, and the Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 King also costs about $44. If you want that feel in white for pale fabrics, Warm & White King costs about $77 for a single king. Size your batting with the batting size calculator, which adds the extra inches a longarm or frame needs.
| Batting | Fiber | Quilting distance | Price | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm & Natural King 4-Pack | 100% cotton with scrim | Up to 10 in | About $44 per king | Wall quilts, runners, sparse quilting |
| Warm & White King | Cotton with scrim, white | Up to 10 in | About $77 per king | White and pale fabrics |
| Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Queen | 80% cotton, 20% poly | Up to 4 in | About $29 per queen | Soft bed quilts |
| Quilters Dream Cotton Request | Natural cotton, Request loft | Check package | About $39 per queen | A thin, flat cotton alternative |
| Quilters Dream Wool Queen | Merino wool, thermally bonded | Check package | About $68 per queen | Loft that shows off quilting |
| Warm & Natural 40 yd Roll | U.S.-grown cotton with scrim | Up to 10 in | About $300 per roll | Longarm quilters finishing many quilts |
Does Warm and Natural shrink?
A little. The Warm Company says to expect up to 3% shrinkage in the first cold water wash, and about 5% in warm water if you want an antique, crinkled look, and it does not require pre-washing. Hobbs lists roughly 3 to 5% shrinkage for Heirloom 80/20. On a 90 in wide quilt, 3% is close to 3 in, so both battings will soften the look of your quilting after washing.
Does batting choice affect which quilting machine you need?
More than people expect. Sparse quilting at 8 to 10 in suits Warm and Natural and is easy on any domestic machine. Close quilting at 4 in or less, which Hobbs 80/20 needs, means far more stitching and far more pushing a rolled quilt through the harp, the space between the needle and the machine body. A dense king quilt is heavy, and a sturdy cotton batting adds to that weight.
If that is where your quilts are heading, a larger throat pays off. The Juki TL-15 midarm offers a 9 x 6.75 in throat for about $1,399, and the Grace Little Rebel offers 13 x 8.5 in with stitch regulation for about $2,799. See Juki TL-15 vs Grace Little Rebel.
Choose Warm and Natural if
- You want to quilt lines up to 10 in apart or tie the quilt.
- You make wall hangings, runners or quilts that should hang flat.
- You prefer 100% cotton.
- You finish several quilts and want the Warm & Natural King 4-Pack stock-up price.
Choose Hobbs 80/20 if
- You want a soft, drapey bed quilt.
- You plan to quilt within about 4 in everywhere.
- You like a slightly crinkled look after washing.
- You want a low-cost single queen, the Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Queen.
Our picks by project
Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Cotton/Poly Batting, Queen
$28.99Soft 80/20 queen batting for about $29, quilted within 4 in.
Check price Warm & Natural Cotton Batting, King (4 Pack)
$175.77Four 120 x 124 in cotton batts with scrim for sparse quilting.
Check price
Hobbs Tuscany 100% Washable Wool Batting, Queen, 96 x 108 in
$76.22Washable wool for warmth and loft that makes quilting stand out.
Check price
Warm & Natural Cotton Batting, 90 in x 40 yd Roll
$299.99A 90 in x 40 yd roll for longarm quilters cutting to size.
Check pricePrices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
This comparison is drawn from published specifications, owner manuals and the consensus of verified owner reviews, not side-by-side testing.
Frequently asked questions
How far apart can you quilt Warm and Natural batting?
The Warm Company says Warm and Natural can be quilted or tied up to 10 in apart, because the cotton is needle-punched through a strong scrim that holds the fibers together. That makes it forgiving for straight-line quilting, simple grids and tied quilts. You can still quilt it densely if you like; the 10 in figure is the maximum gap, not a target.
How close do you have to quilt Hobbs Heirloom 80/20?
Hobbs lists a quilting distance of up to about 4 in for Heirloom 80/20. Leaving larger gaps risks the batting shifting or clumping when the quilt is washed. That spacing suits meandering, stippling and most edge-to-edge longarm designs. If you want wide straight lines or a tied quilt, a scrim batting such as Warm and Natural is a better fit.
Is Warm and Natural too stiff for a bed quilt?
Some quilters find it firm at first, and owners commonly report it softens noticeably after washing. It makes a sturdy, flat bed quilt with a traditional feel. If you want a quilt that drapes over the mattress edge and feels light, an 80/20 blend like Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 or a wool batting is the softer choice.
Do I need to pre-wash Warm and Natural batting?
No. The Warm Company says you can quilt Warm and Natural right out of the package. Expect up to 3% shrinkage in a cold first wash, which gives a light crinkle. If you want a very flat look, pre-washed fabrics plus cold washing keep shrinkage visible but modest. Always follow the care directions on the batting package you buy.
What size batting do I need for a queen quilt?
Batting should be larger than the quilt top on every side: about 4 in extra on each side for domestic machine quilting, and often more for longarm frames. A precut queen such as the Hobbs 80/20 queen measures 90 x 108 in. Enter your finished size in our batting size calculator to confirm before you buy.
Sources
How we research: we compare manufacturer specifications, owner manuals, published standards and recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We do not test products in person, and this is researched guidance, not professional advice. Follow your machine manual and pattern, and take care with rotary cutters, hot irons and needles. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.