Originally Posted by feline fanatic

The fact that NONE of the people you asked in the fabric store suggested you need a special needle for metallic threads says a lot! I have a feeling you were not in a quilt shop but a big box store. (the "stiff linen also says volumes!). That should have given you a bit of a clue they had no idea what you were trying to do or how to go about doing it.

First time I bought metallic at an LQS as soon as the lady saw it in my hand, she said you need special needles for that. I think you will notice a huge difference once you buy the metallic thread needles, loosen your top tension a bit and slow down. Hope you bought several spools because the metallics tend to have less yardage per spool and a stipple will use up a lot of metallic in a very short period of time. I went through almost two spools doing a table runner.