Light weight coverlet quilt???
 

Flannel is an option for a lightweight quilt, just be sure to preshrink it unless you are going for a very puckered look. I also think the 80/20% batting blends make a nice lightweight quilt. I'd even consider a THIN wool batting because it is so breathable.

You can make a 'summer quilt' just the top and backing no batting. Many folks use flannel for the backing, if you do, be sure to pre wash.

I never made a summer quilt but I just would try making a quilt with no batting.

You can buy batting that is for summer quilts. I order some from JAF not long ago. It is cotton and bamboo. Don't remember the %. Have made one quilt with and I like it. The quilt is very light weight, a queen size. I do the quilt as you go method, and had no problems with it. Maybe Google batting for summer or light weight quilts and see what you can find.

I just took a class in Paducah from an Australian quilter. Granted, she was talking about EPP but don't know why her thoughts on this wouldn't cross over to pieced coverlets. She said that most Australian people who EPP, make coverlets using no batting and that the two layers after a little use just stick together and don't shift so that no quilting is needed. Boy that was music to my ears to know that after hand sewing (250) 6-pointed stars, I won't be quilting it too!! I've wanted to make a summer coverlet using one of Eleanor Burns' patterns for several years. Sounds practical for sitting out on the porch in summer evenings.

I'll bet if you made a quilt top and backed it with light weight fleece it would work.

my bed quilt is a top back and a thin batt. we use it summer or winter and it's just great
when it went down to the single digits, I put another quilt on. Otherwise, this is find.
I get the fleece on the bolt by the interfacings for most of my quilting. good luck

I have a couple summer coverlets made by my grandmother (so they are ~70 years old). They are only a pieced top and a backing. Also, the idea of using fleece would be great. I have done these for our couch throws and they are just right. Don't have to do a lot of quilting or can just tie them.

Wouldn't fleece would be pretty warm?

I made 4 summer blankets with no battings. They are just right for hot summer nights.

Fleece is polyester so it doesn't breathe like cotton. If someone is sensitive to that, they will be miserable using a quilt with fleece in the summer. A lot of flannel is all cotton so, I think, that might be a better choice.

Instead of flannel, I will use fleece or t-shirt fabric. I tie these summer blankets and they work fine without the worry of flannel shrinkage. I use a surgeon's knot when I tie the layers together...and have never had any complaints.

I like my quilts with batting for summer better than winter because with the air conditioning I'm always cold. You know "it's not a quilt" if it doesn't have three layers. I think I would use warm and natural, it is only 1/8 in. thick.

I'd probably use Quilter's Dream Request cotton batting. It's thin.

Dumb question: What is EPP?

My grandson in Texas gets really warm. I have made him a quilt of a top and flannel backing. It is just what he needs for his bed.

No quilting? Now I'm all in for that. That would be sooo wonderful. My least favorite part. SVAL

I quilted a table topper without batting and found it difficult. I don't like the look. I would just use a thin batting.

My grandmothers both made "summer" quilts for me, both made them with no batting. One grandmother tied all her quilts so hers is tied; the other just did simple SITD to hold the layers together.

I still have both quilts; the one with SITD is about 30 years old; the tied one is about 25 years old. Both are in fantastic condition, despite me not really taking proper care of them in my younger years!

They both look just fine to me, and in fact I didn't even notice or think about the fact that they don't have batting until I became a quilter myself.

Yes, you can make a quilt without batting, they are generally called summer quilts or coverlets. Without batting the quilting will not show as much, so heavy quilting is not needed.

My mother and grandmother made summer coverlets using a sheet as the inner layer. When a sheet became too used/thin to work on the bed any longer, it was set aside and then used as the "batting" for the summer quilts. The backing was often several feedsacks stitched together and the front was pieced. These were generally tied.

I'm with EmiliasNana, what does EPP mean?

English paper piecing

I often use flannelette as a wading in what I call "an in-between season" quilt.

It gives a lovely finish when quilted- a bit more than just 2 layers - and is a good weight for when you need more than just a sheet type weather.

Thank you for the translation.
mac

I've used pre-washed flannel for batting in light weight quilts - works nicely.

I recently made a couch throw for one of my GGDIL, and just used a pieced top in the pattern she had had a fit over on one of my FB posts and flannel on the back and minimal machine quilting overall. She absolutely loves it--and I'll be making more because we do have several Texas families in our circle. It was so easy, and quick throw-together gift for a recent trip I made down there--I always take an extra suitcase full of gifts to scatter around during all the fun get-togethers they always plan for me. I do love being bragged on for the quilts I make and give out as gifts.....

Ladies, thank you for all the helpful hints an summer quilts! I have supplies on hand to make on for our queen-size bed, but was wondering about batting. Now I just have to decided...flannel batting or no batting. I'll think on it a bit.

For a lightweight quilt, I purchase the thin light weight fleece that Walmart carries and use that for the batting. It's up to 60" wide (check width before buying though), so if your quilts are going to be less than 60 inches wide, it works well. You also don't have to worry about it bunching up in the case that you didn't tie or quilt it close enough together.

I'm not sure if cross-grain and length-wise grain terms apply to knits, though, so will suggest that you determine which direction the fleece is least stretchy and put it in the quilt sandwich so as to have the LEAST stretch in the fleece when quilting or tying. I almost always spray or pin baste when using the light weight fleece as batting as it tends to be slippery when quilting, especially if it's not being quilted on a frame.

I live in Phoenix and it gets HOT here. I have made 2 quilts using no batting at all. We love them. I quilted them just the way I do regular ones.

I used flannel as batting for one and it was just too hot for summer.