I have been quilting for a few years but I seem to learn something new each time I make a quilt. I never thought about not putting batting in a quilt, thus the "sandwich". Early in my quilt-making I hand pieced, stars and 9 patches, and hand quilted a large flannel quilt. It was flannel front and back with warm and natural batting. It turned out beautiful to look at, but useless. It is so heavy and so hot that my hubby doesn't use it. I have made others since then, but use a lightweight polyester batting. Maybe I'll try one with no batting! Do I have to call it a coverlet then?