I see that there are lots of people trading the old soft pretty flowered sheets that they find in thrift stores. I thought that wasn't such a good idea because I wondered how they would wear. However, the quilts they make are really pretty, soft colors, etc. and I'll bet they will be around as long as most of us if they are properly cared for. I never had any problems with sheets for backing as long as they were cotton sheets and a lower thread count. I have hand quilted and tied them both and I don't know that they were any more difficult to sew through than regular cotton fabric. I do think a mixed fabric blend might be more difficult.