I am not sure you would be happy with a ball point needle. BUT, trying things outside 'rules" is how new techniques are born! I once just about had a knockdown drag out fight with a man at the commercial sewing machine store. I wanted top stitch needles for FMQ and he kept trying to sell me their quilting needle. He had no idea that the torque on a frame based machine had to have a stiffer needle shaft. For FMQ on a domestic machine, I suggest the Schmetz machine quilting needle.