I use a small thin sharp needle to bind batiks...or do any hand sewing with batiks. they are a tighter weave than we normally find with our quilting cottons. I do not generally starch my batiks, find no reason to they press so nicely with a little steam- but a good, new sharp fine needle should make a difference. personally I hate machine stitched bindings so I always hand stitch them unless the quilt is for a charity that requires a machine stitched one.