Sometimes people use hand-dyed fabrics instead of the ones with the designs overdyed on them. They are the same weight and feel as batiks, but look more like a tone-on-tone. If a pattern calls for batiks, you could mix them with the hand-dyes. There are many good companies making them, such as Robert Kaufman and Hoffman of California. I, too, love working with them on quilts and purses. Since they are a denser, tighter weave, you need a sharp needle to penetrate the fabric. Also, because there are no selvages as such with identifcation on it, you probably not remember which company it came from. There is a difference in quality. I find that the ones at JoAnn are mostly inferior to the quilt shop ones. You will be able to tell once you get a little more experience with them. Good luck!