LucyPrairie Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Here's my disclosure upfront: I HATE batiks, I don't sew with them at all. The ladies in my guild even laugh at my aversion to them. I have a customer quilt on Freddie that's 95% batik. I'm using QP and the machine is skipping stitches occasionally. Is this just the nature of the beast with batiks,giving me one more reason to hate them or do batik quilts behave differently when being quilted? I've not experienced this problem before, even when using the same pattern in QP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micajah Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 If you can spray the batiks, try using an unscented fabric softner and water - 1 part water and 4 parts softner. this will make it easier for the needle to go thru the fabrics and pull the thread thru. I do this often, but only when I know that the fabrics won't bleed. I You can also use a little silicone like sewers aide or mineral oil on the thread cone if you can't spray the fabric. When the batiks have been prewashed, this helps alot to prevent these kinds of problems. Debbie Oops! did not mean 1 part water and 4 parts fabric softner, its 1 part water to 4 parts softner.....Thanks Lynn, for catching that mistake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaSteller Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 I've heard lots of rumors about batiks being a problem, but have never found them so. Just more cotton quilting fabric. No problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zora Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Is the backing also batik? That contributes to the problem. Use Sewer' s Aid on your thread. Loosen the quilt on the frame. Be careful spraying with water. Many batiks bleed. I would use 4 parts water, 1 part fabric softener..not the other way around. Try changing to a size larger needle. Thinner poly thread like So Fine works better than thick thread or cotton of any kind. I quilt batiks all the time with no issues at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyce Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 I also have never had a problem, maybe just dumb luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyPrairie Posted July 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 I managed to get it done. Loosening the quilt on the frame seemed to help-I don't have any Sewer's Aid, but I'll put some on my shopping list. I used So Fine! on top and Glide on the bottom. The back was pieced with batiks and hand-dyed fabrics. Oh well, at least this one's off my plate. Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMALKB Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 No problems here either. I do notice that my needle dulls faster ! Other than that, I get along fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 I use batiks all the time and don't experience any problems. Maybe loosen your sandwich a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonbon Posted July 10, 2014 Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 Sullivan's silicone spray helps the needle and thread to glide thru the tight weave of batiks. I spray as I go, moving my machine off to the side first. Most often I don't need to use it tho, only on occasion. Main tip is to loosen the roller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anniquilter Posted July 10, 2014 Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 I definitely find the quilt sandwich needs to be looser than I think and have to change the needle much more often than non-batik quilts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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