could NEVER EVER machine quilt, wash fabric before quilting/ bat the sharonschamber way, nothing better.
I like both warm and natural batting but not as much loft as poly which I find easier to quilt.
if you don't want to piece either buy quilt top or a " cheater" fabric or super patterned one and qulit around pattern .
the joy of hand quilting is that it can be done and carried anywhere, not just stuck in a room over a machine, I quilt in an armchair with quilt draped over a trolley if required and by the wood burner and listen to talking books./watch tv/have music on AND relax.