on a baby or child's quilt, I try to put something interesting for them to look at - a print with woodland animals, buildings, fun shapes. For my niece's quilt, I used one of the piecing fabrics from the front, with a larger repeat of a town.

I do whatever works. I prefer the backing is the same as or coordinates with one of the fabrics on the front. Sometimes I have enough fabric left, sometimes not. I prefer prints rather than solids - just personal preference. I usually piece my backs. I prefer the seam lengthwise and not in the center, but I do whatever the amount of fabric I have dictates. Sometimes I do scrappy backs with leftover blocks and miscellaneous pieces from the front. It's your quilt. Do what works.

Backings for me are determined by the amount of fabric I have, and measurement of quilt. If I can do it all with one fabric, I will piece the back the way that uses the least amount of fabric-usually a crosswise seam for twins/doubles, and lengthwise seams for queen...and if I don't have enough of a fabric, but still want to use it, I will piece my back, if I can using leftover fabric from the front of the quilt, otherwise fabrics that coordinate. There is no wrong or right way-just whatever works best for you.

Thank you everyone for your imput. So much of all of this I already knew and was doing, but I guess I wanted to know what the rest of the world was doing.....Have tried to always cut off the salvage edge, sew a 1/2" and then rotary-pink the seam, really lays nice and flat........
Was using muslin/solids for my backs and then switched to prints, love the prints so much better, and yes love scrappy backs, try not to let anything go to waste........
Usually match my bobbin to top so don't have to worry about the "dots".....and yes if back is similar to front that really makes life a lot easier......

I buy the extra wide 108 fabrics if I can get a good price or have a coupon at JoAnn's. It saves time and looks nice even wrong side up on the bed. I usually make queen sized quilts with this backing. If I am making smaller quilts I sometimes piece them but that is double trouble.

My long armer wants the selvedges off. So, I cut them off. I make my backs interesting. I add to them. They've never been solid except one. I always use different fabrics for the back, jazz it up. My LAer doesn't care if the seam is down or across so I do down. I usually have 6-8 pieces in my backing, at least, if not more.

Use a print if you are learning and/or don't want your stitches to show too much on the back.
Seams vertical or horizontal depends on how much fabric you have, not so much on the look because once it's quilted it is almost invisible anyway. I like to cut off selvedges because they will sometimes pucker after washing and be unattractive. I'm more concerned about matching the top with the thread than the back, but when possible the bobbin should match the backing. If tension is correct it shouldn't pull through to the top. All these are just my opinion. That's one of things I love about quilting...you can really just do what you want. It's your quilt.

Well, I use Joannes coupons for 40 to 50% off one cut of fabric and get the 90" wide good smooth muslin....I have a hard time putting large pieces of lovely fabric on the back of quilts when I could use it for another quilt top. With 90" wide muslin I usually don't have to worry about piecing the back....if I do use regular fabric I seam it together with about a 1" seam----then snip into the selvage every 3 to 4 inches.....works for me and what I was taught by another quilter.

Sometimes I use w on w or ow on ow, fabric that has nothing to do with the top. Sometimes fabric that is in the top. Sometimes wide backing fabric. Just depends on who is gettting it. I always cut off all selveges, If its pieced I sew an 1/2" seam and press open.

hi i do the same, use the wide backing, with what ever backing suits the theme of the front, stitching can be seen or not, up to you. I try to make the back look good too, so you end up with two looks for on the bed etc.

janedb