Originally Posted by a1crafter

We were instructed not to use sheets for hand quilting because the thread count is usually too high and it is hard to quilt through by hand. It probably would not matter for machine quilting.

Originally Posted by May in Jersey

I like the backing to have some connection to the front of the quilt so I use yardage that I piece together. It doesn't have to be fabric that was in the front, just something colorwise that works. For baby quilts I like to use polka dot fabric where some of the dots mimic the colors on the front. When I have a large quilt quilted by a longarm quilter I try to use wide backing so there are no seams in the back. I buy neutral colored wider backing on my trips to Lancaster PA where I can purchase it cheaper than locally.

I like the look of backing pieced with different fabrics and/or blocks but for gift quilts I make the backing all one fabric because non quilters don't appreciate the mixed backing like we quilters do.