The lining is quite important. It must be soft, without starch filling, and should match the texture of the pieced top as nearly as possible, as a soft sateen lining with sateen top. For wide quilts allow 3 widths of 36-inch material, having the center one full width and tearing equal parts off of the outer two, or using two full widths with a narrow center strip.
There is an excellent soft sheeting woven especially for quilt linings in white. Two and a half yards is ample for most quilts.
Colored sheeting is sometimes used for quilt linings also, but it comes in a heavier weight. Colored 81-inch sheeting is a good background for quilt tops where a large central applique plan is used or for such designs as the Rose of Sharon, Hollyhock Wreath, or Tulip applique.
Colored linings in some repeat tint from the quilt top are justly popular, and in some ways more practical than white linings.