I don't mind making the backings. It's the sandwiching part I hate. I have a nice table I bought at Sams to use, but I have so much trouble getting all the layers to line up straight. It is a little easier since I spray baste now. If we lived closer together, I would make your backings and you could sandwich my quilts! ;-)

I just use the widest, decent muslin I can get, if I have to piece, then I do so, but I usually don't have to.

Here is how I piece a quilt back using regular width fabric:

I dislike it so much that I just choose from the narrow selection of plain colored extra-wide backing fabric at the LQS.

I'm not cheap when it comes to backing fabric. I want my quilt backing fabric to be a wow, I love that fabric! I buy yardage of fabric just for a backing for one quilt when I plan my quilt. The top may be made from scraps but the back will be new.

I don't mind making the back, I often use extra blocks from the front, so it becomes a simplier look. What I mind is sandwiching them. Even with glue basting, spreading them out just seems like a hassle. I have two tops and two backs ready to go. One of these days. But then I have a hard time quilting in the summer. Once cooler weather sets in, I can quilt again.

Most of the quilts I have made so far (19 and I am blushing) are baby quilts. I limit those to WOF in width to avoid the whole need to "piece the backing" question. And for anything bigger, I do buy wide quilt backings. Here is a tip - the scraps left over from those wide backing fabrics are excellent for binding (fewer pieces). It is a win-win. Don't you think?

I won't baste any other way but with Elmer's Washable School Glue. I have tried every basting way known to quilters and this is the fastest and easiest. Even better then having a longarmer baste the quilt for me.

I think I enjoy the back more. I get to use my imagination on piecing the back out of the extra fabric. And I noticed this past winter that the quilts I made for all my family members they have what we call the back as the top. Made me feel good that they enjoy my 'imagination' -vs- already established quilt patterns.

Have you tried John Flynns method of piecing the back on the diagonal. Only takes about 20" more than length of quilt. Can stretch 44" fabric to about 60"