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Heirloom Natural 100% Wool
Hobbs Heirloom Premium 100% Wool Wadding is a firm favourite among quilters—and for good reason. Known for its beautifully soft, luxurious feel and excellent stitch definition, this premium wool wadding elevates piecing and quilting with ease. It needles wonderfully, maintains a soft loft, and offers outstanding resilience, making it ideal for both everyday quilts and showstoppers.
Crafted from the finest superwashed wool, this wadding is lightweight, breathable, and suitable for use in all climates—including warm and humid conditions. The superwashing process smooths the wool fibres, making it gentler to the touch and less prone to shrinkage. It’s also durable and naturally resistant to bearding and fibre migration.
Highly prized for show quilts, this wadding allows your quilting to shine. It doesn’t retain creases, so finished quilts hang smoothly with no unsightly folds. Quilters can stitch up to 4 inches (10 cm) apart and enjoy the reliable loft and softness it brings to every project.
Available in a range of convenient pre-cut sizes and full rolls, each pack is hand cut in-house and shipped in eco-conscious, plastic-free packaging. View our FAQs at the bottom of this page for additional information.
Heirloom Natural Wool Wadding - Frequently Asked Questions
Hobbs Heirloom Wool batting is highly prized for its luxurious softness, exceptional resilience, and ability to hold a beautiful loft that truly highlights your piecing and quilting stitches. It provides excellent warmth without being heavy, is naturally breathable, and resists creasing, making it a popular choice for show quilts.
Yes, Hobbs Heirloom Wool batting is washable once it's quilted into a project.
- Hand Washing: This is generally recommended. Use cool water and avoid harsh agitation.
- Machine Washing: If machine washing, use a gentle cycle with cool/cold water. Avoid heavy agitation or strong spin cycles, especially in front-loading machines, as these can be hard on the quilt.
- Drying: Air drying flat is highly recommended. You can tumble dry on a cool/air-fluff setting for 5–10 minutes to start, but complete drying by laying flat. NEVER use high heat or steam, as this can cause felting (making the batting dense and stiff) and lead to bearding.
No, pre-washing is not recommended for Hobbs Heirloom Wool batting. This product is needle punched and bonded - if washed before quilting, the fibres can come apart and result in unusable wadding. It is designed to be used directly from the package.
Yes, Hobbs Heirloom Wool batting is expected to shrink about 3-5% when washed after quilting. This is similar to cotton battings and contributes to the lovely "crinkled" or "vintage" look often desired in quilts.
You can quilt Hobbs Heirloom Wool batting up to 4 inches (10 cm) apart. This allows for good puffiness and definition of your quilting stitches.
Hobbs Heirloom Natural Wool batting is unbleached and has a natural cream/off-white color. It's generally recommended to pair it with medium to dark fabrics. If used with white or very light-colored fabrics, the natural color of the wool could slightly darken the fabric.
It's always best to test a small swatch with your chosen fabrics to ensure you're happy with the effect. Hobbs also offers bleached cotton options if a completely white batting is crucial for your project.
Yes, it is excellent for both hand and machine quilting. Many quilters find it needles wonderfully, making it a joy to work with.
It's a versatile batting, popular for:
- Bed quilts (comfortable, provides warmth without weight, and great for summer quilts too)
- Lap quilts
- Show quilts (due to excellent drape and stitch definition)
- Flannel quilts (for added coziness and puffiness)
- Projects where a luxurious feel and good loft are desired.