You may do anything you wish, for myself I try to folllow recommendations on batting because I want my finished item to last and the receiver to enjoy said item. I wash my placemats and runners, as I like to use them, I would be so sad if I received a gift that when washed turned into a big unusable lump. But if it’s for your own use then that’s entirely up to you. At the end of the day there are no rules, and we can do what ever we want with what we make. But do share pictures, because we all love to see what everyone else is working on !