Batiks
 

Has anyone besides me found that batiks bought on line for low prices frays easily? Is there a "brand only" to buy which guarantees good quality?

I haven't found this to be the case, but my favorite batiks are Robert Kaufman and Hoffman brands. Oh, and Timeless treasures! Connecting threads batiks are less expensive, but I haven't found them to fray more easily.
Was it a wide backing? I have read that wide batik backing fabric is a lower thread count to make it easier to quilt.

There is a difference in the quality of fabric so you have to be careful from where you buy them from. I haven't had any problems with the batiks I get from Fabric Shack because she is discounting her older fabrics to make room for newer fabric she gets in almost weekly. I normally only buy Hoffman, Timeless Treasures and Robert Kaufman.

I have found this with a couple of lines of batiks. Princess Mirah or something like that seemed to not be as tight a weave as and a lesser quality greige goods. Like Paper Princess and Maniac I love Kaufman, Hoffman, Timeless Treasures and also Moda Batiks. I find them on sale a lot on line at Hancocks of Paducah.