I personally don't like piecing together backing, so I've been using the 108" backings for quilts wider than 42 inches. Robert Kaufman has some fun ones. I like the circle ones: black/white circles, lime/white circles, gray/white circles. I also use the batik ones or the white on white ones (sorry, don't remember who makes those).

I only make lap size quilts. I use solid fabric for my backings so that I can piece in blocks to match the front of the quilt.

I do mostly lap size quilts for charity. I end up sticking the leftover fabric or blocks on the back of the quilt so I only have to have enough for the length of the quilt. It saves quite a bit of money

I like to get creative on the back. I'll use leftover fabric, or shop clearance for something that I think looks good. Sometimes I'll get fancy, sometimes not. I've never used the wide fabric, as it rarely complements my projects.

I've used wide backings, 44" seamed and cut to fit, pieced from leftover fabric from the front (sometimes in a HUGE block that I used on the front), colored, patterned, geometric, WOW, muslin, black.... it depends so much on that quilt and what the quilting is going to be on it. I do like contrasting thread on the solid backs! It gives it almost a whole cloth feel...

When I first started quilting, I used the 44", but in recent years I've fallen for the 108". I really like the idea of one nice big piece. Also, it's onen less seam to deal with. I like patterns on the back as well so that if I should miss a stitch, or they are not all the same size (hand quilter), it is less noticable.

I prefer wide backs- even flannels can be found in wide widths. often I choose a pattern/print fabric or batik- once in a while a solid is the best choice- solids tend to show every stitch while prints tend to help any errors disappear- so if you are not an excellent quilter a print is much more forgiving. I buy a lot of my wide fabrics from fabric.com where they have great prices and free shipping at $35 so expense speaking wide backs can be a much better deal. it does of course depend on what size quilts you tend to make though. I make mostly queen sized quilts- so 3 yards of 108" wide fabric at $12-$15 a yard gives me plenty of backing (with some left overs to add to the stash or only $36- $45 (when you think about 6 or 7 yards of regular 45" fabric to piece a back at $10-$12 a yard- you are looking at $60,$70 up to $72-$84...even batiks at $17 a yard for wide only comes out to $51 for 3 yards.

Tartan,

I purchase my wide backs from thousands of bolts, they run 9.95 -13.95 for regular fabrics and 14.95-16.95 for batiks. 2yds is more than enough for a throw/twin/full quilt, 3yds is enough for a queen/small king. :)


And I prefer wide backs because I am too lazy to take the time to piece a back :p I have a long arm so it also works a little better without a seam.

I really like wide backs when I'm in a hurry but, I usually just use orphan blocks from the front or I just cut squares of the front fabrics and piece a checkerboard strip to make up for adding width. Someone on the board mentioned a while ago, that if you use the front fabrics also on the back, the quilt can be repaired in the future with fabric that has the same fade, wear, ect. I love that concept but don't know if it will ever happen.

I always shop the sale room/rack at quilt stores for backing material. It is at least 50% off and sometimes more. I often use fabric that had it been on the regular rack at full price I never would have considered it because it didn't speak to me but as a backing even ugly fabric comes alive with personality and you can't beat the price. My quilting budget goes a lot farther by doing this and I'm still getting good quality fabric.