OK.. here's an old time answer.. My grandmother made quilts out of cotton. When there were old suits, woolen clothing, corduroy, etc.. she would make "comforts". She usually did "postcard" or "brick" comforts.. the blocks were cut the size of a postcard and laid out in stairsteps. They had fluffy quilt bats and were tied as they were too fat to quilt. The backing was usually flannel. These were used on the beds, on top of 2 or 3 cotton quilts, usually the beds with the featherbeds on them, and the farthest from the furnace or space heater. Let me tell you, when you were put to bed in one of those beds.. you stayed till morning.. too hard to get in and out...lol. but oh, so cozy on frosty winter mornings. I don't remember being concerned about them shrinking.. and they were only cleaned once a winter.. at the end of it before being put away for the next year.