There are several stabilizers available depending on your project... fusible knit for t-shirts, sticky peel away for unhoopable projects, tearaway, cutaway, and water soluble. Sometimes you can get a sample to try these so you know what works best for you. Yes, rayon thread does have a tendency to bleed. It sews the prettiest for me, but if I'm making an embroidered quilt top, I like to use polyester embroidery thread, especially if it's for a baby quilt which will get a lot of wear and need washing often. Enjoy your machine. It's a whole new world!