Cute Quilt!
My first thought is that with a metalic thread, you'd want to use a metalic needle. They have a smoother eye in the needle.
Practice on some scraps and adjust the tensions to be a bit looser, top and bottom, until it looks good. If you're machine quilting, you need to be brave about learning how to adjust your tensions. Different threads, batting, fabrics, fusible webs, etc, will change how you need to adjust your tensions. Set your bobbin tension first, make sure it's not too tight. Then adjust the upper tension. Play on a scrap until it looks right.