Warm and natural versus Hobbs cotton with scrim
 

Sorry for another batting question. Didn't find this exact question in the archives.

I've never actually seen Hobbs cotton with scrim, but I'm assuming it's the comparable product to Warm and Natural cotton (with scrim).

Are they comparable? Can you really tell one from another?

The Hobbs is WAY less expensive...soooo.

Thanks!

Hobbs is ok, but i prefer Warm & Natural.

Hobbs makes several cotton battings. I assume you are referring to their Heirloom Natural with Scrim?

@Prism99, yes I am.

Hobbs cotton with scrim is less dense and less heavy than Warm and Natural.....which, to me isn't all that natural in a finished, long-arm quilted, queen quilt. I hate trying to fold mine, my shoulders ache afterwards. it's the only personal quilt I have with WN batting and the one I like the least.

I personally much prefer, for weight and drape, Hobbs battings - their organic cotton, their wool, or Quilters Dream cotton Request or their wool.

Jan in VA

Thank you, Jan. I wish we had a "like" button.

I use W&N all the time and actually like the weight. BUT, a friend uses the Quilters Dream 100% cotton and I will say it does have a very nice 'hand' to it. When I finish off the bolt of W&N that I have I will probably try the QD myself. Can you possibly get a small package of each batt and see which one you prefer? Make some placemats or table runners and see what you think.

I used to use W+N ... mostly because of the LQS' influence.
That was what they had ... and they said how good it was.

Then I tried some others ... now W+N is my least favourite.
Yes, I sometimes still use it, by default, in that it might be the easiest to get at the time.


TeresaA ... the best way to find out is to try some others and see what you think.
However, keep in mind that no two quilts are equal ... different stitching methods or quantities can give a totally different feel to the finished quilt. Likewise, different fabrics ... yes they may all be cotton, but different weights. Also, quilts have different size of pieces and numbers of seams, which give a different end feel.

So in the end, it;s really hard to get a true apples-to-apples comparison! :)

Just the opposite. Sorry PatriceJ. I prefer Hobbs 80/20. They both have scrim. I prefer Hobbs because you will get a little puff from the batting. W&N is much heavier and flatter than Hobbs. I use to quilt professionally and Hobbs 80/20 is what I used in my quilts and my customer's quilts. HOPE this answers your question. You will probably find half the quilters preferring one and the other half preferring the other.

Hobbs 80/20 does not have scrim. It is needlepunched, but not through scrim. Hobbs *does* have a cotton batting that is needlepunched through scrim -- their Heirloom Natural with Scrim. I love Hobbs 80/20 but have not tried their Heirloom Natural with Scrim, so can't compare it to Warm and Natural (which is needlepunched through scrim). I used to use W&N, but no longer care for its stiff drape when new (it does soften up with multiple washings).

The problem with trying out the Hobbs natural cotton with scrim is I don't have a good local source to purchase a small amount. I know that my opinion is what matters the most, but I trust you all to give me general guidance. If you'd said, oh, the WN is way better than the Hobbs "100%" cotton with scrim (or vice versa) I'd have probably gone with that advice. However, it looks to me like I should definitely try the Hobbs because the consensus is that people have somewhat of a difference of opinion.

Now, the Hobbs 80/20 is a different matter. Everyone LOVES that (including me) ;-). Maybe I should stick with that. But I don't want to miss out if something else gives me different, fun results!

Also, clarification, my original question is about the Hobbs Natural Cotton with scrim, not about Hobbs 80/20.

And I realize, Teresa, that I was referring to the Hobbs 80/20 when I answered you earlier in this topic. I am not familiar with, have not used the Hobbs natural with scrim that I remember. Guess you can click that "dislike" button now, LOL! :rolleyes: :D

Jan in VA

Nah, never. :D I just saw several people saying that 80/20 doesn't have scrim, so I was clarifying that I was talking about the one with scrim. And I couldn't say the "Hobbs 100% cotton" because if it has scrim, it's probably about 87% cotton (Warm and Natural is 87% cotton).

I had a customer bring me a Hobbs cotton batt a few months ago - I was not impressed at all and decided then that I preferred W & N for cotton battings.

I've used several, including Hobbs and wool. I prefer Warm & Natural. It's nice to use, and lovely in a quilt, especially after its been washed and used a bit.

I'm straying a little from your original question.

I love to use fleece for batting in lap- to 55" wide twin size and baby quilts. For baby quilts, I use the thin fleece because it is so lightweight and drapes wonderfully. The light weight means that it is easier for a young child to drag it around, love it and use it. The very soft drape of the quilt conforms more to the baby's shape than a quilt with regular batting, too.

I use the regular fleece for bigger kids (I make a lot of charity quilts) because it feels softer, almost "pillow-y", makes the quilting a bit more noticeable and fleece is warmer than cotton. Also, my thinking is that kids in foster care or in homeless families need a bit of extra softness in their lives. I have no statistics to back my feelings up, but I also believe that the fleece will hold up to just about any kind of treatment and laundering so the quilt will hold up better.

I used W&N for awhile til I got some Quilters Dream because I was making a quilt w/ a flannel backing. W&N would have been way too heavy.

I must say that I love Quilters Dream Request batting - it's lightweight and I love the drape of it.

I just sandwiched my first time with Hobbs 80/20. I am absolutely NOT impressed. I like the soft loft, but that said, it stretches, it has little mountains puffing up here and there that refuse to be smashed down and leveled out. I am so sorry that I bought several of these some time ago and just now am finding out how awful they are and I am stuck with them.

Thank you for this discussion... I am nearing the end of my Warm and Natural full roll, and am thinking about maybe trying something else after that. This has been informative.

I also prefer the Hobbs 80/20.

If it's any comfort, all of my quilts with Hobbs 80/20 have turned out wonderfully soft and comfy. I usually sprayed the batting with water and fluffed it in the dryer before layering. To be honest, I never noticed major problems with the layering. Anything I did notice, such as wrinkles or uneveness, were not noticeable in the finished quilt. It's been awhile since I've used Hobbs 80/20 (although I have a few bags of it waiting), so I wonder if the quality has changed lately.

Dumb question of the day. What is scrim?

I really prefer the Hobbs 80/20 and use it in most of my quilts. It quilts nicely and it stands up in wear situations. I made some place mats and a table topper with it. They go through the washer and dryer on a weekly basis and look great every time. There has been no shifting or bunching of the batting. It gives me confidence to use them in bed or lap quilts as well. I like the drape of the quilts on the beds. I have used some of the others available but I keep coming back to Hobbs.

It's not a dumb question! Here is a previous thread that explains it better than I could tonight:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...g-t187747.html

I used W & N on a light coloured quilt and didn't notice the wrong side was against the top (it was loaded on the Gammill for me by my LQS - they only brand they stocked) and I could see the little cotton seeds through the fabric :( Never again!

I also much prefer natural fibres and wouldn't use a batting with scrim again. I now only use Quilters Dream Cotton - I've tried all three weights.

Scrim is a type of netting made from polyester. The cotton fibers are needle punched through the scrim and it makes it a very stable batting. But it also makes the batting stiffer if the quilting is close together.

I didn't find a batting with scrim on their website, http://www.hobbsbatting.com/ Which one are you talking about?

They have Heirloom Natural with Scrim, which I believe is what she's asking about.

I found it. I've never seen it in a store though and have never used it. I much prefer battings without scrim as a rule. If I see that one in a store I might try it to see if I like it.

Jan, If you had to pick one for warmth, which would it be,

Jerilee,
I much prefer wool batting for warmth, drape, ease of quilting, and lighter weight - easier to hold and fold a queen and larger quilt.

It is my go-to for most lap and larger bedding projects these days. :)

Jan in VA

And the wool is SO lovely to work with!

I also use fleece for small quilts--you wouldn't believe how fast it dries after washing--great for kids' quilts that need frequent washing.