i suspect that it is the stitch regulator. Best to use the walking foot. The stitch regulator is basicaly for free motion quilting. I don't believe it is helping any for straight line in the ditch quilting. You don't need the regulator for that. Feed Dogs give you a regular stitch.

What is your backing fabric? Is it the same as the front? I use a lot of flannel so it has happened to me. But not so much since I started using the basting spray. And if it is the minky (sp) fabric, my friend had a horrible problem with it, she won't use it at all now.

No. A walking foot feeds both top and bottom layers of fabric evenly. You can think of it as adding feed dogs to the top of the fabric. Without it, the bottom layer tends to get moved by the feed dogs while the top layer tends to get pushed by the pressure foot instead of fed.

Are you trying to free-motion quilt? I don't think you want to be using a stitch regulator unless you are free-motion quilting. Stitch-in-the-ditch is never done with free-motion quilting. It is typically done with the feed dogs up and just a longer-than-normal stitch. If the feed dogs are up and stitch length is not zero, then why would you use a stitch regulator? (I am not up on the newer machines, so maybe I am wrong about this; if so, someone please explain!)

I had limited success with FMQ until I started using Hobbs 80/20 fusible batt. I always got puckers in the back no matter how carefully I pinned and sewed. I think that the spray basting would work well too but due allergies that is not an option for me. Fusible batt does take some special care but I won't use anything else now. I have old carpet in the basement and I lay my backing down first. I then spread out the batt and then my top. I iron the top side first smoothing the fabric before me as I go. I then flip the sandwich over and iron the back. I put a few pins around the edge and then go to my machine and start quilting from the middle out. After the middle is quilted, I sometimes re-iron if needed. It does take some extra time but no more than putting in all the pins. Try it on your next quilt, you may like it.

Dina, no a stitch regulator and a walking foot are two different things.

A walking foot works like feed dogs on the top layer of fabric to be sure it is feeding through at the same rate as the bottom layer.

A stitch regulator is usually used when your feed dogs are NOT engaged - when doing free motion work. Then it helps keep the stitch length even. So no matter how fast or slow you move the fabric, you will always get the same size stitch.

A walking foot and a stich regulator are not the same. I use my walking foot for stich in the ditch and BSR for free motion quilting. Are you using a walking foot? How close are you pins? Are you starting in the middle and working your way out? If no is your answere to those questions, that may be your problem instead of the type of material.

I am over whelmed by your responses & tks so much for your help. I am going to our fabric store today to get some 505 basting spray & I think if I use some of these other suggestions that it will work. My stitch regulator is one that works similar to a walking foot but I will use my walking foot today & starch both top & bottom & increase my stitch length even higher as long as no one reports me to the quilting police LOL. Again, many tks & I will report back as to how I make out with this quilt. Tks to everyone.

The last quilt I quilted didn't bunch up but the backing "moved" so it wasn't lined up correctly. I spray basted and pinned it. Used walking foot on my BabyLock. ?????
Good luck to you. I'm going to be quilting another one soon. I'll be sure to starch and iron along the way. Perhaps that will help.

Be sure your backing is very smooth and not stretched, but tight, before layering the batting and quilt top on it.

I referred to the foot I was using as a stitch regulator BUT it is in fact a DUAL FEED FOOT. It works like a walking foot but you can see better because the foot is open in the front. I have a Bernina 820 machine that I have had for only a few months so I am still getting familiar with all of its features. I also just read in the manual that I can adjust the feed, either top or bottom by turning a knob. I also will trying this along with the suggestions that you wonderful folks have sent me.