Is batting necessary?
 

Is there any reason that a quilt top and backing absolutely has to have batting between them? I am wondering if I can just join a top and back sans batting.

Pros? Cons? TIA

My sister has made duvet-like covers for her grandkids. In summer, the covers (what would be just the pieced front and backing of a quilt) are a light blanket. In winter, with the addition of a quilted middle (she used a couple of old sheets and a batting) they are a heavier covering.

The batting, even if just a layer of flannel helps give something for the quilting stitches to bite into. It also helps hide the color of the backing from showing through to the top through light fabrics.

I think quilts without batting are often called coverlets or summer-weight. I have rescued some from thrift stores and garage sales. Often they are "knife edge" with a blanket stitch around the outside, probably "birthed" -- when you sew together the edges right side in, and then turn out so the seams are inside and the right sides of the fabrics are shown.

I have used flannel as batting . I don't know why I don't use it more often.

I've also used flannel. It gives enough body to support the stitching but not too warm. Works well.

Here's one of the rescues, it happens to be out and used currently. Zero batting. When I bought it at the thrift store (my average price for such things was around $5-10) it was tied together and the fabric was essentially unused. I bought it for the vintage 36" wide on the back, but I ended up using it for machine quilting practice. We've been using/washing this for maybe 10+ years now off and on. Something was off with my quilting, maybe one of the threads is starting to rot out? and recently quilt a bit of quilting has come undone. But it held together and washed fine for long time.

Remember TriChem? I think the blocks must have been "painted" in the 70s-early 80s. It is a year's worth of simple flower outlines. I think it was mostly a test project using available fabric. Some of the solid blocks have been pieced.

I asked my Longarmer this question a few years ago and she said she would not quilt one without batting. If you are doing this yourself however, I don't see that it would matter. I made a cotton top and used flannel on the back with not batting and I love it and have used it for several years now. I did use the birthing method and then stitched around the outside edge.

I asked my Longarmer this question a few years ago and she said she would not quilt one without batting.

The longarmer I use will do that. Our guild made reversible tablecloths and she quilted several for us.

I have made a few quilts without batting but the backing is Fireside or other fleece fabric. I just finished one that was made with denim squares and at queen-sized, it was a heavy beast of a flimsy so it certainly didn't need more bulk before backing.

Me Too!! Agree, I should use it more often.

I just have one with flannel as the batting and love the feel/texture of it.
Too, it gives a nice drape.

In the summer, it gives just a little extra besides the sheet for comfort,
and without giving a lot of warmth. A bit of snuggliness!!

In the winter, I use it along with one other quilt, which is more than warm enough.