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.

I don't like piecing backs, either - I only do it if the perfect fabric isn't available in wide widths.

I buy almost all of my quilt backings from "judipat47" on eBay - she's got over 100 different prints and solids in 108" wide fabrics, plus some more in 90" wide and 120" wide.

The price is only $7-10/yd and the most you pay for shipping on any order is $10.70. She's always super fast and friendly and the quality of the fabric has always been very good.

http://stores.ebay.com/QUILT-UNIQUE-FABRICS-AND-GIFTS

She's got several purples in marble, solid and tone on tone.

You have opened my eyes. I have been picking from the tiny selection at Hancock Fabrics. I need to get on the net.

Jo Anns has some, and I sometimes use sheets too!

Amazing choices. How heavy are they?

I use the marbled blenders from

http://www.marshalldrygoods.com

They are usually $6 for 108 wide. Great thickness.

I am experimenting with different battings and such... I am wanting to try using a sheet as a backing ( love the idea of buying the sheet set/cordinating).
For those of you that have used sheets as backing..Do you have a preference as to what kind of sheet feels/works best,thread count? etc?..Thanks for any info

I have bought a lot of my wide backings from this lady as well and have never had a problem with the quality or the price and she ships to Canada with very reasonable shipping charges as well.

I have used all kinds of cotton sheets with no problems--of course, the better quality last about forever!

I haven't tried any of the batiks or tie-dyed, but the white on white and the tonals and mottled prints that I've tried are of a nice weave. Not the same as the stuff that costs $25/yd, but not in the least bit cheesy, either.

I think in thickness, they're somewhere between Moda and Benartex or Windham?

That's great information, thank you. I hate to piece the back of my quilts and I don't like to use sheets. They never seem to feel right to me. Could be because we sleep with flannel sheets year round!!

I get mine from fabric.com or hancocks_paduccah.com. They have good selections. I have been told that one should never use a sheet, as a high thread count means you will be going through the weaving threads, weakening the resulting quilt. I do, however use flannel sheets on baby or child quilts.

I also buy the backing fabrics to cut and use as backgrounds. They are often cheaper per yard and quite versatile, especially the tone on tone ones. Using plain muslin extrawides works well and is inexpensive, but shows off any problems with your quilting.

I much prefer to work with unpieced backs. I do all my work on my home machine most of the time and I prefer not to have anything that feels like a crease coming through from the back.

I do use sheets a lot. We used to have a Westpoint Stevens outlet here where I could get a king size, Ralph Lauren sheet for $5. Now they have left so I have been scouring the thrift stores. Sometimes I am lucky there and sometimes I end up getting a new one.

I can't find a "good quality" king sized flat sheet ( not in a set) for the life of me, anywhere lol

And I just learned if I want to experiment with the sheet backing, at least use a lower thread count..Tanks lol

http://stores.ebay.com/QUILT-UNIQUE-FABRICS-AND-GIFTS

She's got several purples in marble, solid and tone on tone.[/quote]

I check out this store and the fabric looks really nice and there is a really good selection with good price. I saw some there that I already have and so I know that it must be good material.

I also dislike seams on the backs of my quilts. I really like www.fabric.com (fast & low shipping costs & good selection) & www.denverfabrics.com, but I have found a few "to-die-for" prints in the 108" width at JoAnn's (stores & online). Thanks for mentioning some other websites to check out. We've only got a couple of stores in town besides Walmart & their selection is terrible. I've tried sheets before (not a high thread count)& don't like them for hand quilting unless they're washed a couple of times to remove the sizing & it's the perfect color/print.

Have you tried some of the discount houses or hotel suppliers? A friend swears by "Goodwill" stores for sheet sets & sometimes flats. Flats ARE getting harder & harder to find & King sets are SO expensive! I resorted to buying a set for son & daughter-in-law; used the flat sheet for the quilt back, gave them the bottom sheets & pillowcases to match. They didn't mind at all & paired it up w/ a top sheet rotated from another solid set.

I use sheets almost all the time.

joann's has some wide backing fabric. i'm surprised Hancock fabrics doesn't. other than that, you can by the length you need, times two and sew yardage together to make it work.

I buy the set when I have to. So far my quilts I've made are no bigger than double size, but the fitted sheet can be used too, just cut the elastics off. :)

I use sheets all the time and can always find King sized cotton or flannel sheets for less than $10 at Lens Mills or Giant Tiger (only in Canada). Sears also sells single sheets. Sheets machine quilt up just fine, wash and wear well. I would hate to use yardage often $10 to $15 a meter here when I would need 5 or 6 metres for a large quilt. I stock up on sheets when I find them on sale and buy colours that I know will work out for the scrap quilts I usually make.

I bought one backing of a gorgeous batik a couple of years ago, only to find that the thread count was so high and the weave so tight that it blunted my machine needles in very short order.

Thanks for sharing other sites.

Fabric Shack has some nice wide backing starting at $6.95. It is good quality fabric.

Largest selection I have ever seen and best price is at crafttownfabrics.net great color selection too

SewBatik online is a great place to get wide backings. It comes 108" wide and in a variety of colors. I've used this quite a lot and have always been happy with the fabric.

Marshall's gets my vote.

JoAnn's has it but not a real wide selection of color. Keepsake Quilting has it also.

For bigger quilts I usually always use the wide backings. I have gotten it from Marshalls Dry Goods, Hancocks, most of our local Quilt stores carry a little bit.

Why miss an opportunity to make a doubly beautiful quilt? I usually prefer to piece my backs, I use extra blocks from the front or some coordinating fabrics. A one-piece back is SO boring

I am fortunate to have a shop near where I live that carries a very large selection of both 90" and 108" fabric in assorted designs and colors -- $6.99/yard.

I've ordered from Hancocks of Paducah and also get it at my LQS. I also purchased some at Jo Annes but it was quite thin compared to the other 2 places I've mentioned.

good Luck

Suzy