I try to do back with cooridnating fabric or contrasting fabrics. For special ones I use upholstgery velvet, prewashed. it is much easier to use then dress making velvet. I have also used other upholstery fabric with great success. I was gifted 3 partial rolls of upholstery fabric. I do craft shows & clidents are always impressed how my tablerunners are finished on back. As others have said makes them reversable.