Connecting Threads has great fabric clearances. When it goes to less then $3 a yard for the good stuff then I buy. I noticed when CT gets a new fabric line, the older line has some print that goes on clearance. I tend to buy light, med or dark print fabric for my backings. I buy at least 7 yards, so when fabric is $3 a yard it's very economical and over $50 is free shipping. CT is the only online store I trust to have quality fabric for $3 a yard.

My LQS recently started offering 20% off backing fabric (which is their usual high quality fabrics)on the 15th of each month if you bring in a completed quilt top. I had suggested they do this as another shop I go to up north does that. I have bought twice at these sales. I got the best quality fabric for much less than usual. I will continue to do this for the special quilts but I have used muslin, sheets, and extra fabric for many quilts. I am doing a string quilt now with fleece backing that I got from the remnant bin at JoAnn. It will be a "cuddle" quilt.

judee

Ahh, that explains it! For the first time I just ordered 108" wide quilt back from Thousands of Bolts. The website indicated it was a batik. When the squishy arrived I didn't think the quality of the fabric was batik quality, it felt looser. This must be why.

For backs on wall hangings I often use muslin or whatever I happen to have in my stash. I got on a flannel kick for a while but what b**ch it was to handquilt! Mostly because it is so hard to get small even stitches with that added bulk. Works fine for machine quilting or tying and oh what a nice soft snuggly warm quilt a flannel back makes.

Like many of you have posted, I am now buying fabric for my stash destined to be backs from my LQS when I get the good sales.

I use muslin for the backs of almost all my quilts. Very inexpensive at Joanns and I've never had any trouble with it.

I just looked at the Hancock fabrics flyer and they are having quilt backings 90" and 120" on sale for $5.99 and up starting Sept. 24th.

judee

Well...I can answer this one as I just this morning bought backing fabric for 2 quilts that I am taking to the long-arm quilt lady on Monday. I bought at my LQS and paid $13.99 ayard for 108" fabric. I was very disappointed in the selection available, also. I guess I just nearly choked on that price for such ugly fabric...and, yes, it was ugly! However, I imagine it will look fine once it is on the back of my quilts. :) If I had planned ahead, I could have purchased it when it was on sale a little while back. Unfortunately, as usual, I am running behind. In the future I will probably look around a little bit...but these are the first quilts I have finished and this is a brand-new experience for me.

Quilt in a Day also in the past has had 108" backs 3 yds for $12.00. Said they had small flaws, I can't find 'em. Nixiechicks.com also has some 108" fabric for around $8.00 yd. Just placed my order :D

I always wait til my fabric store runs their wide quilt backing fabric on sale at 40-50% off and then I stock up. And I will be stocking up starting Sept 24th because Hancocks is just around the corner from me.

I piece my backing using this method. I seldom buy wide backing fabric, I seldom see a wide backing fabric that's has a pretty design.

http://www.reddawn.net/quilt/backings.htm

The price is not as bad as you might think. To get 108" wide, you'd have to buy 2.7 yards of fabric AND piece it. That 13.99 per yard works out to 5.18/per yard for 40" wide fabric.