I recently took a FMQ class from a well known quilt teacher and she said you do not need a stitch regulator. All you really need is the ability to lower your feed dogs and lots of practice. I have done FMQ on my old 1960's Bernina 830 and also do it on my new Bernina 440 with the regulator. I've found that practice is the most important. All the teachers I have taken classes from say, "Practice!" They are right. (Some of these people sold machines and some were sponsored by machine companies.)