I use pill free fleece for the backing on a lot of my quilts. For most of them I use the "birthing" method and then after turning, stitching around the outside edge of the quilt and doing some type of stitching throughout the top be it outlining the squares on the front or some straight side to side and top to bottom stitching. I have some that have been washed many times and the fleece holds up well and stays soft and fluffy.