Actually the batik is very soft. Great quality, I think it was either Kaufman or Moda I don't recall. I am using a 10 betweens to do the needle turn. My fingers don't hurt my by hands ache as I have had surgery on both to fuse the bones in the back of my hand and remove a bone from under my thumb on both hands. I only work on it for about an hour then I take a break. I almost have this area completed then I will undo the side to finish the last area. I am going to add a border of the same fabric. There was a continuous pattern on the original design but I chose not to use that and do a small 2 1/2 inch border. That is my daughter request.