As I am now retired and living on a low fixed income, any fabric I buy goes on the quilt top where it will be seen. I usually buy sheets from the charity shops for the back, or if I'm lucky I may be able to find a large piece of fabric in one of them, I've even used cotton curtains from the charity shop and the curtain linings make great foundation squares for string quilts.

I like solid pieces of plain fabric or muslin for backing. If hand quilted, the are much more attraactive.(almost prettier than the pieced front)

I grew up in the South with both my Grandmother and Great Grandmother quilting in the house. I, of course, couldn't be bothered then, silly me, but anyway, I was grown before I ever knew anybody used anything for backing except muslin and I am sure the backs must have been pieced. So, now in my old age, I don't worry too much about backing.

what are the pro's and con's of using a sheet for a backing?. I haven't tried it yet, but have wondered. I use muslin backing, so far, with one exception, I added a strip to each side and the top, of a same fabric I used on the front of a quilt..
I like the muslin feel, it is soft and hopefully, wears great! I also found at Joanne fabrics, a roll of batting, 20 yards by 59-60" wide...it was 39.99, and with the 40% coupon they always have, it came out almost half price. It would be great to use for baby quilts, or throws...I bought the poly batting, because I like the light weight feel. This is a disapearing 9 patch, and because her favorite color is lime green, her mother asked me to add that color...this is as close as I could fine a lime green.
This is how it was suppose to look, and then how it looked, finished.

I'm glad for the discussion about sheets. I recently discovered that a nearby thrift shop has a huge variety of 100 percent cotton sheets. I picked up some to use as backing. For example, I got a king-sized sheet for about $2. It has some pastel designs on it and would be a great backing for a kid's quilt. The sheet looks brand-new or at the very least lightly used.

I truly never thought of it that way :oops:

One of my favorite quilt backs is one I pieced from the leftover fabrics that I used in the front. It's like a reversible quilt.

I buy beautiful quilt backs ... the fabric is between 108 and 120" wide. The highest price is $9.99/yd. The last time I went there they had them all for $5.99 to $6.99/yd. I bought a ton! Most of what they have is tone-on-tone marbled. They have some very rich colors, deep purples, greens, blues, etc.

And your secret source is??????

The store is called "FM Store" it is @ 1368 East Sunshine in Springfield, MO 65804.

It looks like a hole in the wall. But I get high quality quilting fabric AND the most beautiful quilt backs at very reasonable prices. I also bet my batting from him (it's a Dad and son business). They don't have a web site. The only way to shop there is in person.

Good Luck!