I have a Sweet 16, and am learning without the stitch regulator. I tried it with, but felt more in touch with the process with my foot controlling the pedal. It is definitely not necessary, but many people prefer having it. Ideally, you could try it out both ways before deciding.
There's a yahoo group for owners of this machine, or those considering buying one, where you can find a wealth of information.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 02-25-2015 at 03:07 PM.
Reason: remove link which requires sign up