Question About Quilt Backing
 

Is quilt backing the same as regular 100% cotton fabric? Can it be used for piecing or is it just for backing a quilt only?

As long as it says 100% cotton, it is the same. I often buy quilt backing(extra wide 108") when it is on sale because you get more bang for your your buck. I will buy the 108" tone on tone backing and use it for piecing or applique. So yes you can use the quilt backing for piecing.

i like the 108 stuff because it eliminates the seam!

I think it depends. Some of the wide backings I've looked at were much thinner than the cottons I like to use (and so I didn't buy them). Many of them are the same, however. I guess backing fabrics differ as much as any cotton fabrics do - some thicker, some thinner.

Muslin is often used for a wide backing and it is not as nice/thick/strong as a cotton quilting fabric. It is labeled as muslin so just be careful with that.

there are a vast range of muslins- some are wonderful- and just as good as any quilting fabric you can buy-and make fabulous quilts - others are thin used mostly for foundations or other craft applications-most places that sell muslins have a variety to choose from and they will say- lightweight, medium or heavy-- you can also just open them up & check them out- they are just as good in a quilt top as in a backing-
there are as many different fabrics (catagorized) as backings as there are other fabrics-
i often purchase an extra yard of wide backing- just so i have a piece 36" x 108" to use in another project.
i love the wide batiks!
you can use backing fabric for the top if you want
you can also use regular yardage and piece your backings.