I have made about 15 tee shirt and memory quilts. There is a light weight knit fusible that I like best, but any light-weight fusible is fine. If you use something too heavy it makes the shirts way too rigid. Make sure you use the stabilizer on the tee shirt before you cut to the desired size. . . I have done things a variety of ways - with sashing - without - appliqued onto a strip of fabric - I just go where-ever my brain takes me - my last two I did not use batting but used blizzard fleece instead - with instructions to the recipient to wash in cool water only! works fine and takes a fraction of the time !! I also always wash a quilt before I gift it !!