I used to always piece together fabric for the backing of my quilts and just hated having those seams.

Then....I discovered that fabric is available in widths up to 108"! WooHoo! JoAnn Fabrics also has a few bolts of fabric available in this width. It's great to use some of those 40-50% coupons on, when you can't think of anything else to buy. I buy the 108" fabric in multiples of 2-1/2 yards to keep on hand. Many of the most boring looking fabrics actually look very nice as the backing for a quilt. I try to keep lots of tan florals, black/white prints, blues, pinks and purples on hand. I would much rather pay a little bit of extra money for the wider fabric, than have a seam on the back side of my quilt.

I either buy the wide backing or 2 2 yard pieces and sew them together, depending on the size of the quilt. I dont quilt my own unless its a table runner, or Baby quilt, then I spray baste the layers together.

Sheets work very well for backings. I know that there are some quilters who will disagree but I have often used them. They machine quilt easily, wash and wear well and come in a multitude of colours. I look for the cotton rich sheets in King size so that I have extra to make matching pillowcases. Quilting fabric is at least $15 a metre in Canada and it's hard to justify the extra cost when a sheet can be purchased for about $10 if bought on sale. I buy them at Len's Mills, Giant Tiger (small department store) or Sears and they all sometimes have seconds available (can't often tell why they are a second) and that's when I stock up. We use sheets all the time for the back of our Community Quilts stitched by our quilt guild.

I find it easier to seam the back pieces first with a wider seam, then trim the selvages together before I press the seam. If using 45" fabric, I starch and press it before seaming - it's must easier to handle than a wide piece. Then I only have to press the seam before I sandwich the quilt, not the large piece.

I go for the widebacks. So much easier and quicker.

I always procrastinate when it comes time to do the backing.....I'm seriously considering sheeting or widebacks.

I have only made four twin size quilts but on each one I have put a row of leftover blocks from the top pieced into a solid color back. I just take my time and do it. I love adding those little bits of color on the back.

Bedsheets are most likely OK if you are machine quilting, however for hand quilting it is not recommended because of the denseness of the warp and the weft. Especially with Pima cottons (commonly used in bedding sheets), the thread count is too high per square inch to yield even stitching and can cause more hand fatigue.

I always tear off the selvage. It gives it a nice straight of grain cut. I usually sew my backings in 3 pieces as I was told never to have the seam down the middle. I steam open my seam always. I back stitch on my seam on the back always. I usually add a different fabric also to the back to jazz it up or do something to make the back more interesting. I've never used sheets. Didn't know you could. I've used wide back fabric before. It's nice!

I like to buy the better 90" muslin at JoAnn's (coupon and/or sale) to use for my backing or use sheets.