quilt without batting??
 

I am making a quilt for my son in law, he finds blankets too hot; so I am thinking of just adding a flannel back to the to
top without any batting. Would if look ok do you think or kind of flimsy? Or if I added a flannel liner, just trying to get some feedback from the gals here who may have had a similar problem. Would appreciate all suggestions....thanks

I have never done it myself, but I have seen many posts here that have said the make quilts with just the pieced top and backing--no batting--for many reasons like yours, living in a warmer climate, etc. I think it would be fine with a regular quilting cotton back or a flannel back.

I'd go with wool batting & regular cotton backing.

My grandma would occasionally make a cover (coverlet?) that consisted of a pieced top and a cotton backing - knowing my DGM, that was probably pieced, also. There was no filling, and it was tied.

Think of it as a double sheet. Worked well in the summer time in a non-airconditioned house - especially towards morning when it finally started to cool down.

I made a quilt that was 3 layers of flannel - top, batting, backing. It was pretty heavy. However, if you're doing cotton for the top and backing, I think a flannel batting would be okay.

You could always do a test square and see what you think. :)

I think smooth cotton fabric is much cooler against the skin than flannel. I would use a cotton back, with or without a lightweight batting, rather than put flannel on the back of a quilt that is meant not to be too warm. Wool batting is a good suggestion (from PaperPrincess), since it breathes and is lightweight.

I've had to make a few (summer/warm climate) quilts over the years ... Family in Florida and San Diego ... Flannel makes for a pretty warm quilt! So I have had to do some experimenting . the best results came from the ones with just regular cottons top & backing and a layer of lightweight fusible interfacing (fused to the back of the top) and quilted. The one I made that needed to be a bit *loftier* I used wool batting in And, the summer quilt on my bed has wool batting. The great thing about wool batting is it is lightweight, breaths, and has great loft. It is definitely a favorite.

A friend of mine just asked me about this, he wants a lap/throw quilt and says he doesn't want it heavy so no batting I thought since I'm not spending the money on the batting instead I was thinking of buying a good quality bed sheet for the backing and stitching in the ditch and bind

My grandmother made summer quilts that were just a pieced top and a back, no batting. I agree that flannel is warm.

[QUOTE=bearisgray;6799424]My grandma would occasionally make a cover (coverlet?) that consisted of a pieced top and a cotton backing - knowing my DGM, that was probably pieced, also. There was no filling, and it was tied.

Yup, when I was a kid we called them coverlets. Just the quilt top and a backing. There usually was no binding and the quilt was sewn together (right sides together) along the edges leaving an opening so it could be turned. Then it was quilted. In my house they were called summer quilts/coverlets.

years ago, late 1800’s and early 20th century, quilts were often tied or quilted w no batt. they were called summer quilts. i like the current thought --your quilt, do it your way.

I agree; it's amazing how comfortable a wool batting is, even in summer! I slept under mine last night and the temps were in the high 80s/low 90s here yesterday. It also works wonderfully in the winter when I use it with a light weight 100% cotton blanket as well.
Wool drapes beautifully and is light weight. I use Quilters Dream wool.

Jan in VA

I agree with dunster. I wouldn't use flannel since that is warm.

I did not use batting on a quilt that I backed with flannel and have regretted it ever since. It's too flat looking and has no dimension. I would either use Dream Cotton Request which is a very thin cotton batting or wool.

I have made a "summer "quilt with out batting. Yes the quilt is lighter but it also has no body and wrinkles easily. Advantage to no batting is that you do not need to do much quilting since there is no batting to hold together. Also I made a "summer" quilt with flannel as the batting thinking it would be lighter and cooler- NO. Actually it was just as heavy and warm as one made with my usual batting- Hobbs 80/20 and cost much more since flannel by the yard for a large quilt is more expensive than using batting. Bottom line- I will always use my regular atting since it is really not too heavy or warm.

I made my husband a lap quilt with no batting, just flannel backing. He absolutely loves it. Of course, we live in AZ where it's pretty warm (putting it mildly). He wanted something he could throw over himself when watching TV or taking a nap. Grandson loves it too and asked for one.

Have you looked into Thermore batting? It's poly and very thin (1/8") and very, very lightweight. It's used a lot in making jackets because it drapes well it.

thanks for all the great ideas, I will take a look and see what I can find for a lighter batting, I like the fusible lining idea that might be the best for me and think I will take most of the suggestions and just do a cotton backing...........back to the fabric store

Yep...have two for summer. Just top and flannel. Only issue is that hard to see the quilting pattern.

I learned the hard way not to quilt without a batting. Quilting was difficult to say the least, and the design did not show up well. A thin batting such as prewashed flannel or something like Quilters Dream Request would be light weight enough and still be easy to quilt. Hope this helps.

If he gets too hot, I would use regular cotton fabric for the back as flannel is very warm. Quilts without batting were referred to as Summer Quilts as they were lighter weight. Certainly you can make them without batting, but you need to carefully press yur seams so they don't make "bumps" that show through the backing fabric.

I made a flannel rag quilt without batting. It was plenty heavy and still very warm. My son-in-law is the same. I suggested we buy a lightweight bedspread and make runners and pillows as accents

Quilt without batting
 

I use a quilt that was made by my aunt. It's batting is a sheet. So there are 3 layers of cotton. Light weight and comfortable all year.

I just made a top and put a piece of fabric a little bit heavyer than regular cotton and love it for our Texas Summer. No batting

Don't know how much you can tell from this picture but, I made my dad a wheel chair quilt with just the front (appliqued and pieced) and put flannel on the back. Not too heavy but still a good weight. I ended up tying it .

My daughters make quilts all the time for their kids with no batt. I admit that's difficult for me to do, but their's always turn out nice. And as I think about this, my favorite snuggle throw has no batt.

I have made several quilts /flannel as the batting. Just be sure to wash the flannel before you use. Layer and quilt as usual. My grandmother had several & we called them sleeping porch quilts or summer quilts. Very nice for summertime use. Good luck.

I can't see why you couldn't make it without the batting, but would avoid flannel because it will make it too warm. I received a mug rug from a new quilter in a swap and it is made without batting/quilting. It is very pretty so I am using it as a wall hanging instead of as a mug rug. Coverlets are perfect for summer and/or warmer climates.

A couple of years ago I made a top and just wanted a Summer Quilt--without any batting. The girl who did the machine quilting said it was okay when she looked at it.
When she got done she said it would have been better to have something for a batting; that it would have been easier to quilt;even a sheet.
I love the quilt, and it looks nice; just the quilting was the issue.
Enjoy!
Mariah

I live in Southern Arizona where it's warm most of the time. I'm just finishing a lap throw for my sister who is undergoing chemotherapy and gets cold easily. I used no batting. Just quilted the top to fleece. It makes a very nice, light quilt. You should be fine with flannel.

my daughter would make small lap quilts for her friends to put in their backpacks and take to competitions. (They spent many hours sitting in outdoor stadiums!) She always used a thin flannel instead of backing. This makes it easy to roll up but gives it a little padding so you don't feel all the seams. It was also a manageable thickness for her to maneuver to quilt.

I use fleece instead of battingand a backing on my donated lapquilts. They come out fantastic. They are heavy that way

I would combine a sheet and quilt top if he doesn't want to be warm or even hot. I have two quilts that way. They are play quilts for my kids. They are nice.

I made a coverlet for my twin size bed, using jelly rolls, honey bun, charms and half charms. Most of the fabrics were batik (my first use of batiks..love them!) Just made up the pattern as I went along. I plan to use an old flannel sheet (still in very good condition) that I never use anymore, for the batt, and cotton print for the backing.

I just sent a quilt to Alabama. she has air conditioning, so I used warm and natural and 100% cotton muslin for the backing---the best you see on the shelf, and 108 or 116" wide. (for me)

I have made a few kids quilts without batting but as I was given a lot of Jersey knit fabric, I used this as a backing but to give it a bit more body I used an old sheet or something similar in between to stabilise it. It came up pretty good too with the quilting, didn't pucker....

Flannel will be even hotter. Just quilt it with a backing, no stuffing and call it a summer quilt. If you must have a stuffing, why no just use some cheap batting. I am hot always too. I would be a sweat hog under flannel.

I have two quilts that are just top & backing. My mother in law made one top and my mother backed it with a sheet and hand quilted it. I made one and backed it with regular material. I use both of them in the summer. Even my thinner quilts are too hot for me during summer.

many thanks to all for the ideas

Our guild made quilts for Vietnam and we made a regular quilt top and used lightweight polar fleece as the backing. No batting at all and they were great!