It isn't just the larger eye that helps, it the deeper groove on the front of the needle. That groove helps protect the thread as it goes through the fabric. If the thread is larger than the groove it rubs against the fabric and that can cause shredding.
Pati, in Phx
[quote=Charleen DiSante]Thanks janRN. It makes sense if the top stitich needles have a larger hole if that is what was making thread shred.