I've made three summer quilts (or counterpanes as they are also known as). I do not put batting in them. I machine quilted them. The one that has stippling with about 1" spaces I like the best. The other one I stitched in the ditch and the quilting was about 3" apart. It doesn't lay as flat as I like. I love these kind of quilts. They are light enough for summer use. I also use them in the winter when I may need more than one quilt, but less than two on top of me.