I have purchased 108" backing for 5.99 per yard and found the very identical backing at quilt shops charging 14.99 per yard. Even with shipping I got a better price. Shop around.

I just buy sheets less expensive and, oh, the variety of colors.

Isn't the wide backing fabric a much looser weave than the 44" fabric? In which case, it should be less expensive per sq yd.

I've left voice mail for the VP of Sales at South Sea Imports to ask if they're printing the wide fabrics on a different grade of goods. With Quilt Market being this weekend, I don't expect an answer until next week (when their dust settles). I will definitely post what I find out!

(One of the perks of being "in the business" is that sometimes you can talk to a highly-placed person who's truly "in the know"! There's nothing as good as getting information straight from the source.)

I use the wide backing on my quilts and if there is any muslin left I use it for blocks or for the kids. There is little left when making a queen size quilt and that is a plus when you do a lot of quilting and buying of material. When I shop I try and get it on sale so I can buy the larger by the bolt the 44" I would have to buy more bolts. I have very little storage space and need all I can get to quilt as the bedroom is small and can not handle a lot of scraps and material like I wished it could.....

thanks for the information

Here's what the rep said:

"Never printed on the same goods as they are printed at a different plant that only does 110".
Not the same quality, but some are pretty good."

Still waiting to hear what the VIP of Sales says; I'm going to try to find out what the weight is per-yard and the thread count, which will be a more informative answer, right? So we can compare it, with, say the weights that are posted on Robert Kaufman's site, so we know how it stacks up with fabrics that we may have personally seen and/or handled. (I don't think Kaufman makes wide backings, so we'll have to do a little math to compare apples to apples!)

I would still rather use the cheaper made fabric than a bed sheet.

me too

Many are not thinner fabrics. It depends on the manufacture, some are thicker fabrics. I have never found any difference in Batik backings.
I frequently buy backings , particullarly the remnants for use in quilt tops . Shop owners have a hard time selling less than a yard of a backing and will discount it often 50 percent. So I figure I am really getting quite the bargain.