I, too piece my backs. I use leftover fabric from the front if I have it or just dive into my stash and grab some fabric that will look nice on the back.

the standard for piecing backings to make them large enough is to divide the back into 3's, and sew 3 strips together, generally lengthwise with 45" wide fabric. Personally, i haven't put pieced blocks or different kinds of fabric together but that has been more happenstance than planning not too. Do make you backing seams bigger than 1/4".

Welcome!
And if the fabric isn't wide enough then you certain can and should piece it. Now that I've been quilting a little longer I'm getting more adventurous and following the suggestions of those who mix n match the back or add a spare block or two from the front. It looks more planned that way and is certainly more interesting than just a plain back with a seam.

Alexe, welcome form Northern California. As you will find there is a lot of help here on the board. Thanks to all for the links. BrendaK

Alexe,
Welcome from central Texas! Of course you can piece your quilt backing. Here's one of my backings:

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...45965719hUYGSp

Here's the front:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...45965719jqgEmB
Sharon W. in Texas

Welcome from Georgia. We're always here to help.

If my backing is not wide enough I make a a Flange and then add a border to make my backing a little larger than my top, this gives a nice finish. I am sure in the archives of this Quilting Board there are instructions for making a flange, which can also be done on the top of a quilt.

Welcome to the Quilt Board,, it is perfectly fine to piece the backing,, you can have fun with it and use up some of your stash...If you are going to send it out to have it quilted just make sure it is at least 4" larger all the way around that the top. Long arm quilters like that, it makes our lives so much easier..

It is absolutely proper to pice the back. Some people use a pieced back as a stash buster. I hate piecing backs, because they can easily detract from the front of the quilt, but I do when I don't have enough good quality muslin or wide quilt backing. And welcome from N. Texas, 60 miles north of Dallas, 30 miles south of Durant, Oklahoma. froggyintexas