Topstitch needles have a larger eye and longer scarf. The scarf of the needle is an indentation along the length of the needle, the thread sort of rests in this indentation as the needle moves up and down, in and out of the fabric. Because a topstitch needle has a longer scarf, there is less friction on the thread, which is reason #1 why topstitch needles are so highly recommended for quilting. Reason #2 is the larger eye.
I'm with the others, try a new needle, preferably a topstitch size 16.
Another issue I've had with shredding - make sure your thread path is clear, and that the thread isn't getting hung up somewhere.