use a high-loft batting and quilt as close as the batt says it has to be quilted. the batting dictates the amount of quilting a quilt has to have...you can do more, but need at least as much as it says. batts come in various lofts...from very thin (1/8th") and all lofts inbetween. i just finished a customer quilt that the lady brought a batt that was 3/4" thick! that is some lofty batting! it was not difficult to quilt, but it did really take up the backing...her back wound up being too short...even though it started out about 5" longer than the top. so take that into consideration when you choose yoru batting/backing. the back needs to be larger (and trimmed after quilting) because as you quilt the fabric is 'drawn-up' much like appliquing.