margecam52

Take your time purchasing gadgets. I started with an old Nustyle machine...green monster, think regulated was not a word that went with quilt machines when momma machine was made, lol.

I learned a lot from that old machine. Folks would ask how I kept the stitches so even...Practice, practice & a bit more practice.
It had a wide base (about 4")...and I got a no-frills ruler (7.00 usd). After a few months, I made myself an extended base from a piece of plexiglass I bought at a hardware store. I also used some of the extra leftover for making a long ruler. I used that to practice cross hatching. I then found the LineTamer from fourpaws quilting & paid about 22.00 for it. I love that ruler, mostly for it's bright green tint. It's an excellent took for stitch in the ditch...you line the center groove over the seam & there is no way to jiggle off line.

Pantos were about the only way to go with the non regulated machines. When I got the new machine (TL18LS)...I learned to use stitch regulation...and now go between both regulated & non regulated.

I've made an extended base for this machine also (about $13.00). I now have other rulers and templates. I added a Qbot V3 & that has eliminated the need for pantos.

When lining up pantos, I would put the needle where I wanted the next row of stitches to start stitching..roll the quilt & then adjust the stylus (later a laser light) so it was at the start of the panto...and that worked well for me.

Find what works for you. There are some great videos on youtube... Sharon Schamber; Jamie Wallen are two very helpful quilters. Also, find those for your machine and view those...I used to just search youtube for quilting or long arm quilting....and tons came up.