Stephanie,
That's easy to do with some machines, no so with others. Query: have you ever sewn with an older Singer 66 or 99 or any of them with just the nob to control the stitches? It is not a precise way to adjust the stitches and it takes over 7 complete turns of the nob to get to the zero stitch point. That's why I say it's a good idea in general, but a pain in the butt with the older Singers.
Joe