Just an off the wall question....where did you buy them? I have made shirts for my girls out of batiks for a picture and I just finished a table topper and I hand quilted it. I never prewash I haven't ever had issues and I use cheap brother machines (not cheap as in crap but alot cheaper then most machines in price). Maybe it's the batch of fabric you bought. I think they are hard to sew because they have no give but my girls love them so I make quilts and projects for them with them. Never a problem with the needle though