In picking up the studio the other day, I discovered a product I had purchased some time ago for using with metallic thread. I thought I'd try it on my embroidery thread that seemed to have a shredding problem. I don't know if it's been mentioned before, but I think it's helping a lot. It's called "Sewer's Aid". It's a thick liquid that seems a little oily, but I don't think it would mark fabric. I put a little on the needle and drizzled some down the spool of thread. Everything so far has sewn much better since doing that. I don't know if it's been mentioned here before. I asked Santa for another bottle of it for my stocking so I can have some near each machine.