Heirloom Quilt Backing ?
 

I am finishing a quilt commissioned as a tribute to cient's father from pieces of his shirts. She wants it to be passed down to future generations. She intends for it to be lightly used and thought flannel would be nice feeling on the back, which it would. But I discouraged her from this choice because I was concerned about the longevity of the flannel fabric. I thought it would wear out before the top. I used the stablizer for silk fabric on the pieces of her father's shirts so they would last. They are combined with LQS fabric.

Was I right or wrong in discouraging her about flannel?

I've used flannel quite frequently on my quilts. So far, even for the ones that get washed frequently, I have not heard any complaints/requests to resew/comments about the flannel deteriorating.

My personal choice would be a excellent quality muslin........would not "fight" with the top and would certainly be appropriate.......

I would use a tone on tone, perhaps picking up a color from the top.....Even though my last quilt had a tea stained muslin backing, I will say it was my very least favorate and will not do it again.....very, very very plain and boring !!!
Perhaps even use a novelty print of his most favorate thing, be it golf, or fishing or football.......

After my own dear husband died, I did save all his clothes (at least the interesting ones) and made a lap quilt for each one of his grandchildren. His most favorate thing was cars, so that was the borders, binding and backing for his grandsons quilt. For our grandaughter it was all about flowers, his next favorate thing......I did a 9 patch, and used blue jeans, dress shirts, her most favorate ties, and those silly rayon car shirts....they all spoke of him.....

I think you were doing the right thing about flannel for a quilt that is intended to be passed on for many decades to come. There are such variences in the quality of flannel , even for high priced goods. Some issues do not reveal themselves immediately such as pilling.