What size needle are you using? I do most of my piecing by hand, and I have found that the finer and shorter the needle the easier it is to stitch and the faster it goes..also the smaller my stitches are. I use a #12 quilters between for all of my quilting and piecing. Even then you get some difference in thickness of needle and "slickness" yep some needles seem to drag a bit going through the fabric.. And I'm always trying new needles. The latest and one of the best I've found are Jeana Kimball's Foxglove Cottage
Betweens/Quilting size 12.