I have used cheap fleece as a batting and a very thin, ugly feeling batting before when making these and the recipients are very pleased. I do quilt shapes and/or words onto mine before giving them. Made several for a friend who was moving and both were flabbergasted that I had taken so much time to make them something. Not so much time minus the quilting time but who am I to burst their bubble. I will look for heavy duty Wallyworld Pellon the next time I am in there as I'm out of all other innards. I think they look better with some type of batting in the middle but that's my personal preference.
Chris