Is batting necessary?
 

I have a question for all you ladies. I was just looking at a quilt on "pictures". The lady had used minkee as her backing but had also used batting. I've used fleece on a couple of denim throws I've done and I've used minkee on all the (2 or 3) baby blankets I've done but I didn't use batting with any of them. The denim and the fleece was sufficient and I thought the minkee was as well on the baby blankets but I could be wrong. My brothers and my dad seem to think, although they know nothing about quilting at all, that if a quilt doesn't have batting it's not a real quilt. This is because my grandmother always used batting.

So what to do? I know I won't add batting to denim throws even using flannel as the backing, they are quite warm enough without anything else added. But the baby blankets and just regular throws using minkee as the backing? What do you think, batting or no?

It sounds like your brothers & father are candidates for the Quilt Police Academy. It's your quilt and you can do it any way you want. If they want to make quilts and add batting--give them directions to the quilt shop.

I don't add batting to a quilt that has fleece for the backing. I did add batting scraps to the 2 denim faux cathedral windows quilts I have made because one is supposed to be heavy for hubby's restless legs and the second was made to be a play mat on a hard floor.

No quilt police here to say you "have to" use batting. Personally, I think the Minkee makes the baby quilts warm enough.

minkey on its own is just fine if you whant to enter it in a show it has to have 3 layers but if its just for you or a gift do whatever you whant.

I don't use batting on the baby "quilts" I make when using flannel or minkee; they are warm and soft.
Yes, it does take three layers to technically make a quilt, but who cares if they are not in a show?

"quilt/kwilt/

[TABLE="class: ts"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]Noun:[/TD]
[TD][TABLE="class: ts"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]A warm bed covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric and kept in place by lines of stitching"



[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

I consider a layer of air and folded-back seam allowances, to also be a form of padding. :thumbup:

I have never used fleece or minkee for the backing. But it sounds interesting, I will have to try it on my next Project Linus quilt. The fleece should make the quilts light in weigh but comfortably warm.

I think it all has to do with how and where the quilt is to be used or how you want it to look. Here we have such little cold weather most quilters I know use very thin batting for bed quilts and thicker for show quilts and wall hangings. As has already been said, it is your quilt and you should do what you like.

The first quilt that I made with no batting I didn't take to guild for show and tell because I thought there was something wrong with just using fleece on the back and quilting brought the fleece. It just seemed thick enough. And it was for the cabin, so it didn't need to be super warm--but it still is. Keep doing it the way that you want to--and tell the quilt police they can make their quilts they way they think is right, and so will you.

Ignore them and do what pleases you.
When they start quilting, they can do what pleases them.

I didn't use batting in a Christmas quilt I made because I used flannel on the back. I loved the quilt top but was disappointed after quilting it because the quilting just made it look flat. No definition at all. I doubt that I will do that again, but I'm sure it's warm enough here in Texas without the batting.

It's personal preference, but I have made several without batting and just used fleece. It is very comfortable that way in my opinion.

It all depends on the purpose for which you are doing the quilt. If it is one for camping in the cold...lots more thickness than if it is to be used in my nice warm home. And if it is for judging, possibly even different criteria.

I personally like doing just the top and fleece. Quick, easy, inexpensive (I got several bolts of fleece at $3/yd on sale 3 or 4 years ago), and most important of all, very snuggly! Plus most of what I make is throws, so no need to piece the fleece.

Do as you please. Traditional "summer quilts" are 2 layers. When I find a really nice fleece for the backing, I don't use batting. My rule is 'your quilt, your choice'. When I make baby quilts, they are for people who may not have enough heat in their houses, so I always use batting. Premie quilts, however, are supposed to be 2 layers to avoid weight,

I have used sheets for many years. sometimes I don't want them fluffy or stipples a lot. But sheets work real well and are really warm.

i've made requested all cotton quilts for people with no batting- the materials you choose to use to create a quilt is your choice there is no right or wrong- if you do not want to use batting it is your project to make that decision for.

I have used batting on a quilt that was minkee backed. Mostly because I longarm them and want to make sure that the stitches have somewhere in the middle to meet and sink and form the perfect stitch. I read a lot about it before deciding on that and too advice from other professional longarmers. I also had trouble when I made a t shirt quilt with thermore batting which is super thin. I think not using the batting can definitely work especially for people who end up quilting on their dsm' s. I've
done two layers of fleece with no
batting and that worked nicely. My baby clothes t-shirt shirt quilt with minky back and batting is pretty heavy but I like the weight...I think either way is fine:)

I think you would be fine without batting in something like that.
i will say I did a wall hanging with cotton fabrics and it was a quilt as you go until I got to the border. i put backing fabric on all and no batting in the border area. my machine quilting design didn't show up well there. so next time, batting. it does help.

Personally I prefer batting in all of my quilts. BUT that's just my preference, to each his own.

I jusst finished a DresdenPlate quilt for the summer, I didn't use batting for two reasons. First the Plate is sitting on another peice of fabric and second It was to heavy to put a batting in. It gets very hot here in RI. So do what yyou want and enjoy the process. Mary

My mother in law has a quilt without backing-just a regularly pieced top with a solid fabric backing. It's hand tied for lighter weight. Her friend made it for her and she was told it was a "summer" quilt. Since seeing this one, I've read about the "summer quilts." Apparently they were more common awhile back.

I agree with a lot of the others. Do whatever way pleases you. If the guys want to have 3 layers, send them to the LQS for lessons!

You did just what I would have done..most have batting, some have none. I am just binding one that has no batting and is backed with flannel. It is a "summer quilt". Just enough for a cool summer night.
Do what you want! It is your quilt.

It's YOUR quilt. Do whatever you want to do!

My friend's granny helped us make quilts when I was a kid. She made some of her quilts without batting and she called them "counterpanes" mostly used for summer on the beds just to give a lighter cover when needed in their old farmhouse. I always liked the rustic and romantic sound of the word counterpane, and now use it for any quilt that doesn't have batting. I have looked up the word, but the definition seems rather blurry and open to inturpretation. Guess it is up to the individual. Shelburn

Its a preference ... of yours ! Like the song says .. do what you want to do !

LOL! Ask them to show you the last quilts they made, then tell them to offer advice. Do what you want! It is, after all, your quilt or blankie or wrap or whatever!

Rules only apply to quilts entered in shows. Do like our ancestors did - whatever is appropriate for your circumstances. In Phoenix bed quilts don't need much if any batting, but in the mountains of Arizona most quilts will need good batting. I'm sure the same thing applies in other areas of the country. Also, the time of year could make a difference. For a baby born in late spring or summer I wouldn't want a heavy quilt. For a baby born in the fall or early winter I would.

I think adding batting to a baby quilt that has a minkee backing would make the quilt too heavy. I like my baby quilts to be lightweight, after all they cover very tiny kids.


I make a lot of string quilts for charity using a large square of fabric as the foundation for each block. Between the foundation, fabric strips, many seams and lots of thread the blocks are pretty heavy. I skip using batting and back the quilt with flannel. Quilt is nice and cuddly without being really heavy.

I make a fleese quilt/blanket out a single layer of fleese w 5/8" seam. Snip the seam to make it look kinda raggy. I call them a woobbie and my friend takes one of his woobbies w him if he is going to be gone over night.
I feel if I sewed it back together the way I want to I can call it what ever I want. Quilt or woobbie take your choice. O call by what ever you want, I don't care.

I've made several quilts with minkee on the back, two of which were extra long queen sized tshirt quilts. I did not put batting in them because the quilt itself is VERY warm and heavy just having the minkee backing!

I have a couple of gorgeous vintage summer quilts that don't have a middle layer and I just made myself a summer quilt with muslin for the "batting." I agree with gollytwo - when they start quilting they can do as they please!

I made a "summer" quilt for my bed and I only used a thin fleecy blanket as the backing. When I showed it at quilt guild and told them what I did everyone got excited and said they had never thought of making a summer quilt in that manner. As it turns out the quilt is still too warm when it's 100 degrees here BUT I can always turn it back and sleep with just the sheet. I put it together pillow case style so no binding was needed and it was thin enough on the edges so that all I did was stitch about a 1/2" all around to keep the edge from rolling. For added fun I machine embroidered butterflies randomly on the top to make it look more like a traditional quilt.

Tell your family when they make their quilt they can make it anyway they want. It's called creativity.

I made a flannel rag quilt for my DH. I used batting in it and it was so heavy and warm that DH couldn't use it---and he is always cold! The next 2 rag quilts I made for my grandsons were made without batting. They loved them and used them constantly. I don't think you need batting in flannel, fleece or Minkee backed quilts. Ignore the quilt police. LOL

My 5-year-old grandson is asleep on my couch right now - waiting for his dad to come pick him up. He's sleeping under a "quilt" my son was given by a church lady when he graduated from high school - 14 years ago. It's a pieced top and solid cotton backing. There are a few straight quilting lines and that's it. Perfect weight. My grandmother also called these "summer quilts". In all of these the middle layer is love. :)

pic of sleeping grandboy under summer quilt.

Awwwww! What a sweet, little angel! Priceless picture! :)

If I were making a quilt to be used in the summer (maybe one for the porch swing, or a tablecloth) I wouldn't use batting. I live in MT so batting is a must for the bed quilts!

See....there are no rules....just do whatever you need depending on the use/circumstance. I reckon if our quilting ancestors could see the amazing products available to us, they'd do backflips....minkee, panels, amazing threads, the internet, blogs, easy to quilt battings....they would be astounded.