I think picking a good fabric really helps if you don't want to piece it. I usually make complicated quilts, but the other week I made a very basic quiltlet with two pieces of flannel and batting in the middle, tied every 4" with embroidery floss. You can see it at
http://lobsterdesigns.dreamwidth.org...h%27s+quiltlet together with seriously adorable photos of the baby on it.
And I definitely washed the flannel! I did self-binding, never done it before so mitring the corners took a bit of figuring out but it was blissfully easy all round.