I just finished a table runner and it too had to have metallic thread. I had a spool of Coats and Clark gold metallic so using a prewound bobbin of white, I placed the C&C metallic on a thread stand, threaded my machine (Janome 15000) stitched a bit on a sample sandwich, and wow, worked perfectly. I stitched the rays from the star above the manger and was so pleased that I switched to free motion and thread painted over the star and the halo over baby Jesus.
Don't know whether it was just plain luck or what but so glad I just bit the bullet and went for it. Here is a picture of the runner.....actually I am going to hang on the wall. So I say....go for it after a test stitch on a sample of fabric.
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I've used metallic embroidery thread in my quilting machine for small areas only but never had an issue. Seems that machine likes the thread better than my embroidery machines does. As someone mentioned, slow down your speed and use a larger needle or at least that's what I did and had no breakage whatsoever.

Thanks people for all your replies! I'm off to my LQS. We can always depend on great advice on this board.:thumbup:

yes, use a needle specifically designed for metallic thread , and go slower. The thread heats up with friction and the faster you go, the more it heats up. Too much, and it breaks. The larger eye of the special needle helps reduce friction too.