pre wash the batik backing
I bought a beautiful wide back batik fabric and the longarmer told me she had lots of trouble with it. I had washed it. She had tension issues and was very concerned about the holes left in the fabric. Eventually after washing the quilt a couple times the holes are closed.
Since then I have bought a longarm and I make sure that I wash my batik backings a couple times to soften them up.
Peggy