I have done lots of EPP sewing with Jeanna Kimball's #11 needles and silk thread with absolutely no trouble. And yes, my friends laugh at me because I grip the needle so tightly, my needle bends easily! Occassionally I snap one in two! Lol! One of my friends taught me to use a slip knot to keep silk thread from unthreading all the time because it is so slippery and fine. That was a life-saver! I do not sew thru all layers as someone mentioned--just slip-stitch two layers of fabric across the top of papers without catching the paper. My stitching looks like almost a satin stitch, I've been told. Works for me! Good luck--you just have to try until something works for you. There is no right or wrong.