I was wondering where you ladies get you wide backing material. The only one I found where I live is at Hobby Lobby and it was a muslin. My Mom asked me to make a dark purple quilt for my SIL but I don't really want to piece the back if I can find some wider fabric. Thought I would put cream color on the back since I sent them cream color sheets for the bed for Christmas. Thanks for your help.

I always order mine from fabric.com. They have a nice selection and they get it to you quickly. Our selections here in town leave a lot to be desired.

:) I got mine from JoAnn's. It sure helps when you don't want to piece together materials. It was $8.00 a yard. I had a discount cert. so it cost me less than that.

You can also try christianlanequilters.com. They sell wide backs which they call fatbacks. They will also send you a sample of the fabric by mail, so you can be sure it will be the right color.

can you use a sheet that matches the bedding that is what I usually use and I have not problem handquilting them.

Try Craft Connection. They have weekly sales and backings are on sale (15% off) the week of January 16-22. Their customer service is fantastic. http://www.craftconn.com/

I can look at work and see what we have for cream colors...I'm pretty sure we have a few TOTs that are 108" wide, and we also carry 108" sheeting in a bunch of different marbles, if you decided you wanted to do the purple instead. All the 108" is usually 6.99/yd

I use sheets very often. They work exactly the same, and depending on the quilt size they're cheaper.

Check "Thousands of Bolts"

http://www.thousandsofbolts.com

Good prices and a very good selection.

I would never piece a back. It scares me when I am happily quilting to feel a difference in the stitch. I think something is going wrong in the bottom of the quilt, to find out it was a seam. Either my machine is very sensitive to changes or my relationship to my machine is so close that I can tell something is going on. So, if I am making a big quilt that will be in a show I tend to get 108 inches backing fabric. But most of my quilts are wall hanging that will be sold, never wider than 44 inches, so those get backed with regular fabric. Large quilts that will be used on daily basis, watched, slept on by the dog, and maybe washed more often that once a week get a sheet as backing. Never had a problem. I try to get a set for the bed I will be making the quilt for, and use the flat sheet for the back. When The bed is made it has fitted, sheets and the back of the quilt all matching. I have sold several as a set like this and my customers are very happy.