I would think that the quilt would be unbelievably heavy using batting, fleece and flannel backing. My SIL has made quilts from old denim jeans cut into squares, sometimes she even added the pockets from jeans, then she tied the quilt with a flannel backing. I slept under 2 such quilts once (I was really, really cold) and they were definitely warm, however, I could barely move under them. I agree with nanna-up-north - make it "your" way, certainly the denim top and flannel backing would make a nice, warm quilt, and just not tell him what you did, he'll probably never know and at 78 years old he doesn't need a quilt so heavy he cannot move under it. Just a thought.