Most of the vintage quilts I have are very heavy. The cotton batting is the real stuff and it gets lumpy but so soft. Hand quilting had to be close to keep the batting from lumping together in one spot. Most vintage quilts were made a cheap as possible. These quilters wouldn't splurge on batting for bed quilts. In the south left over cotton from the gin was used. I know my grandmother got it from the local cotton gin. She had to bring her own tow sack. I don't remember much but she would spread it out on the quilt back in the big frame. Since it was flat when being quilted it stayed in place.