I don't have a stitch regulator on my machine... now, so far I've only mastered "stippling", but thats because I haven't gotten brave enough to try other patterns. I FMQ with my feed dogs down. It takes practice, start with a small project, and I recommend gloves with rubber tipped fingers, It just feels like I have better control. Takes a little to get use to wearing gloves,but now I cant FMQ with out them.