Most of mine are mixed quilts. I like to get a focus fabric and then usually pick out some batiks and a pattern that really show it off. Just look at the picture section on here. You will always see basis mixed. Even with other types of fabrics like fleece and flannel and homespuns.

I totally agree you can mix and match the two types of fabric on the front and back to your liking. I do it all the time.

However, FYI -

$17.99/yard for 108" batik is the equivalent of $6.60-$7.20/yard for 40"-42" wide batik fabric.

Just saying. ;-)

Sounds like a money thing to me. Sorry that they were trying to "police" you.

I mix and match Batiks and other cottons together without a problem. Made one last December for ME and mixed them on the top, cotton and batik, and used a cotton 108" back. Works fine. Even though the price of 108" cotton may seem high, you only need as much as the shortest length of the quilt, no piecing and no leftover, so the price is actually cheaper than buying two lengths on 45 " fabric and having to piece it together.

You can find batik backing at Thousands of Bolts much cheaper.

Usually by the time I am done with a bed size batik quilt top ... and the batting ... its tough to spend the money on the batik backing fabric. I use what ever I want. Only a few times have I sprung for the batik backing fabric. I have even done a flannel back on a batik ( pre-shrunk the flannel) .
The only difference is that batiks will not shrink ( if they are a true batik, they have been immersed in hot water). So if you have a concern about the backing .. not playing well with the top ...pre-shrink it. Some of the lower cost backing do have a bit more that usual shrinkage.

Thanks for the info on backing at THousands of Bolts. I'll check it out.

I use fleece backings on my batik quilts and have had no problem. I do quilt by hand so I dont know how they would machine quilt with the fleece back. But they are for use by family in the winter months so also get washed a lot with no problems.

I've never used a wide back fabric. I either use pieces, usually of what's in the top, or if I'm going to use one fabric, I piece that into a wide enough piece.

I check sale bolts at shops, plus when I go to a retreat each year, at the end, the owner has sale bolts that are $3/yd. I can usually find things that might not be pefect, but certainly work! With most patterns, if you want to, you can match them up so it's hard to even find that seam.

Today my chore is to baste sandwich the landscape quilt. The top is all batiks - the backing is Northcott Stonehenge. That was what looked best so that is what I used.

Do what ever you want. It's your quilt.