Schmetz makes a "quilting" needle that has a different scarf for acomodating the thread when doing FMQ.
There is also a wonderful older spiral-bound book called "Point Well Taken!" by Debbie Garbers that gives advice about needles and which needles/threads to use with which fabrics. After 17 years I still refer to it often.
http://pointwelltakenbook.com/
Jan in VA