Jeans Quilters - Please Advise

Whew - the holidays threw my quilting plans for a loop!  But here's my next project:  

This is the "before" picture.  Don't know what the "after" picture will look like.  It'll be big enough for a twin bed.  Other than that, I'm gonna make it up as I go.  

I've made jeans quilts in the past.  (Type "jeans" in the search bar at the top of my blog to  see them.)  Most had a denim patchwork top, low loft batting and fleece backing - tied together with yarn.  These have been very heavy, warm quilts. 

This time I want to do a rag style quilt, but am stumped how to proceed.  If I use flannel in place of batting, it'll reduce the bulk somewhat.  Still, every seam will a have total of 6 layers of fabric.  Yikes - I can't imagine how I'd join the rows and sew through all that bulk.  Maybe I could use flannel batting and backing?  I have a lot of recycled shirting that might work as backing squares.  It would be three times as much cutting...but no quilting or tying.  Will have to experiment.  I know there are special scissors needed for fraying the edges.  Anybody know what they're called?

If you've ever made a jeans quilt, please drop me a line.  I'd love to hear about it!