For a domestic machine, a regular needle has worked fine for me (just not a ball point). I use a 12, not a 14; the holes of the 14 are too big for me. Some machines might be touchy about needle size; mine is not. I think the needle size is more related to the thread you run through it. I use the same size needle (12) for both piecing and machine quilting.
I could be wrong, but I think the domestic "quilting" needles are actually designed for piecing. They have a sharp point and some other minor modifications.
It is the quilting frame setups that often recommend using a size 14 needle, I think. Because those machines do so many more stitches per minute than a domestic machine, the heavier needle holds up better to the higher speeds and also helps keep the thread from shredding.