I had a problem with a Hawaiian wallhanging that had batik on the back. My stitches didn't seem to penetrate through to the back. I finally ripped out the quilting after showing it to the handquilting teacher at the LQS, she said it was probably the tight weave of the batik. I replaced the back with regular cotton and have it basted. Hopefully it will go beter this time. I took a class with Luxine Newman, the Thimblelady, just to quilt this piece. My Mother did the applique in the 70's when we lived on Oahu. We moved back to California and she put it away. She gave it to me recently after we saw some Hawaiian quilts and I said I should make one to remember our year in Hawaii ... she knew right where it was, LOL!