My mom and grandmother used blankets from the dollar stores when I was small. And they quilted by hand. When my mother-in-law gave us some "itchy" blankets that my kids hated, I used them as batting. Since the blankets had a pattern, I turned them over so that the pattern faced the back of the quilt. I was using a cheap cotton for backing, which means the pattern showed through the backing. Not that it mattered, but it gave the backing some interest. The quilts were utilitarian, so using the blankets turned out to be a good idea--they were heavy and warm. My mil complimented me on my frugality. And I was able to put the blankets to good use at a time when we couldn't afford to waste anything.