I learned a long time ago not to use batiks in something I am handquilting. I love the way they look but not the way they feel. They are very hard to handquilt through. I save them for purses and small machine quilted items. The only time I might use them in a piece I would be handquilting is if they were very small pieces of applique. 40 years ago when I started quilting it was common for people to try and use a sheet for the back of a quilt. Unless you were using a sheet with a very low thread count that was not a good idea. You will be able to make a much smaller stitch and more stitches on your needle with a looser woven fabric.