I don't have a stitch regulator. I can tell you that my FMQ is not perfect. I was looking at a Bernina machine, and also a Brother, and the salesperson told me that you can learn to do it without a stitch regulator, it just takes practice. Well, I scrapped the idea of a new machine, (I have a Viking that my dad brought to me a few years ago, and he told me it was for me and my girls to use. Because I do more than my girls do in the way of quilting right now, they told me to keep it at my house. Well, my mom found out and it caused a big fight. Anyway, I was going to buy a new machine to keep the peace, but decided against it). Anyway, I got off topic, but I find the more I practice the better it looks.