I just went through this myself, but as someone else suggested, and I always do anyway, is I prewashed 2x's (I wash 2x's for batiks because of the dye in the water and a REAL bad experience with a quilt after washing it after washing batik once.) and I went to use a Size 14 needle and had loads of problems. So I called my mom and she said to try a size 11 needle, problems are gone.
Now, I wonder if this depends on the quality of batik fabrics? Because, I've been working on a Judy Neimeyer Wedding ring quilt and most of you know that is with paper piecing and I've used a size 14 needle with no problems with the batiks I was using hmmmmmm......