When a youngster in Indiana, we made the utility quilts for warmth in an old unheated, well barely heated, farm house. We cut 8 to 10 inch blocks, sewed them together and used an old worn blanket [sometimes 2] for batting.
We cut the blanket in half and sewed the outside sides together so the worn part was on the outer edges of the finished quilt. We used flannel for the backing.
Because most of the fabrics were dark, we then tied them with red yarn.
They were the warmest and I yearn for their warmth.