I was just wondering if any of you have trouble with the needle going through certain types of fabric. I just finished an all batik applique and I am trying to echo quilt around the rings. It is like quilting through 5 layers instead of 3 or worse. I have hand quilted for 27 years and never had this problem. It is definitely not the batting, although I started a while back using cotton instead of polyester. When I tried to needle the batik on its own, it is very dense. I can just get 2 stitches on my needle, usually I quilt about 10-12 to the inch, I have bent needles, I am determined to finish it. All the batiks are Hoffman and some are Mckenna Ryan. It is just wierd. I was really looking forward to hand quilting this, because it has no seams to quilt through. I thought this would go fast, boy was I wrong, it is taking me longer than any quilt I have ever done.

I have also tried 3 different brands of between needles.

I have had this problem before with some backing I bought from JoAnns, and some fabric that had metallic in the print,but never even thought I could have a problem with a hoffman.

I am not machine quilting this so don't even suggest it. :lol: :roll:

I don't hand quilt. But I have heard batiks have a tighter weave that other fabrics.

I have only used batiks once, and that was when I made a schlep bag for my DD. I had to do just a little hand stitching on it and it was difficult. I checked with the LQS, and they said that the batiks were usually of a denser weave and could be more difficult to sew through. Which you found out already.

Everyone seems to like them, however. Perhaps someone with more experience with them could have a suggestion.

Yes, I've had the same problem as you and I thought it was just me! Now I don't feel so bad! Also had the problem with the metallic in the prints also, now I shy away from those fabrics. I know what you mean about not suggesting machine quilting. It'll take you longer and I can almost bet you won't use batiks again unless you don't hand quilt it.

Thanks, I actually had not heard that, but no wonder, I am having trouble. The top is all batiks and then I put a batik on the back. Yikes. At least I will know next time, to just use it in small amounts or only on one layer.

Dkabasketlady, I agree about avoiding the metallics, me too, and they don't hold up that well, anyway.

A very fine platinum needle might be helpful, they are easy to glide thru.

Joanns has them or here is a site. Worth a try.

http://www.connectingthreads.com/too...s_TD20754.html

Thanks, I will try them. I am off to a quilt show tomorrow. I will look while I am there, if not I will stop by JoAnn's.

I have even heard that longarm quilters prefer not to have batiks on the front and the back for similar reasons, so it does make sense that you are having trouble. I will file this for the future! I keep one hand-stitched project going so I have hand work to do anytime. I'll try to remember--no batiks!

This is just a thought here and may or may not have anything to do with it as I cannot handle the fabric to feel what it like but I have actually made my own batik fabrics in the past from 100% cottons. What I found was that with all the resist work (using wax for this) and all the various dye baths and mordants, the fabric seemed to become more stiffer as each colour of dye was added. Even after all the wax was boiled out the fabric was no longer soft like the original plain white cotton, so I am wondering if it is perhaps just that kind of process?

Gal

I've never tried to hand quilt batiks myself but would imagine it's the tighter weave that's giving you trouble. I don't use the paste prints either, if I'm going to be handquilting - same as the metallics, hard to get the needle through.

I usually don't have a problem hand quilting on batiks - in fact I like the way the stitches look on them. The only time they've given me grief is if there's a batik on the back - then it felt like I needed a jack hammer to get the needle through.

In your shoes, I would loosen the tension on the quilt, and keep trying different needles. Instead of hoping for 10-12 stitches, go for bigger stitches. Try quilting on the bias - it has some natural give to it, where straight of grain would be harder because it doesn't stretch.

I have found that some fabrics are harder to quilt through than others. While batiks are good for me, some Kona solids are hard. Not all of them, just some. Who knew?

Janet

I think that batiks have a tighter weave that other fabrics.

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.

That is the problem. I have batik on the back also. I have used it in small amounts before, but this entire quilt is batik. It is gorgeos, but never again. It does feel like I need a jack hammer.

I have tried 4 different types of needles and even tried not using a hoop. Thank goodness it is small. I am going out today and buy platinum needles.

Gal, after thinking about it last night, I had an aha moment and I came to the same conclusion, after I thought about the process of making batiks.