I have a short arm machine (Janome 1600P) on a Grace Next Generations frame. I've been reading lots lately about people not being happy with the short arm's narrow available quilting space. I can't get a longer machine right now, if ever, but I spent yesterday researching long arm machines anyway (just for fun). From what I saw, a stitch regulator seems to be pretty darn nice; Janome has a stitch regulator available for $499.00.

I have not done much practicing with the machine and I'm not any good at quilting with it -- yet. I am wondering if having a stitch regulator on the machine would make a big difference or not so much.

I appreciate whatever knowledge you share with me about it.

In my opinion, is nice to have but with plenty of practice, you can do well without it. I have it for my Bernina. I have quilted for so long without it that sometimes when I use it it slows me down. My two cents worth.

I do not have a stitch reg. and it is a long learning curve for me. I do have a 10 in. throat on my machine and it helps alot.
The industry used to have a stitch reg. available but found they make more money by limiting it to longarms only. Im upsett over the greed that has been showing up in the quilting industry just since I started quilting 5 yrs ago.
Even QNNTV used to be a free website for videos but Fons and Porter bought it and it now costs 24 dollars.
Simply Quilts was a great show but now you have to pay for the website and it no longer is on TV.
Sorry, but just had to vent.

Janome doesn't have a stitch regulator. The only short arm you can get one with is Bernina. My friend and I tried it out at a LQS and were very disappointed. We both have Janome 6600's and found out they are so much better. With push button instead of foot peddle it is just as good (actually better) than a stitch regulator. The main point of a stitch regulator is to keep the machine going at a constant speed and when you move your hands the needle moves. It is still possible to get uneven stitches. If you use a knee lift lever it does the same job of stopping the needle when the presser foot is lifted. My advice would be to save your money until you can get a machine with a longer space.

Yes, they do have one. Sew-Vac Direct and other sewing machine retailers offer it (with photos) for sale. The machine I want it for is the high speed 1600P DPX, made primarily to go on a Grace quilt frame. I have enough money to purchase a long arm machine, but refuse to do that until I can learn to use the short one (9" sewing space - possibly called a mid-arm) that I have with some degree of success.

Went to the web-site. The stitch regulator is for the grace quilting frame not the Janome machine.

Yes, the stitch regulator IS made by Grace ... for the Janome 1600P series, one of which I have ... on a Grace frame.

To re-phrase my original question, does anyone know if this new Grace stitch regulator made for Janome 1600P machines is a particularly helpful tool to have?

The stitch regulator is not made by Janome, but it is made specifically to work with the Janome 1600P machine. Quilter's Cruise Control is one company, which makes a stitch regulator for nearly every computerized sewing machine made, including Janome, Brother, Viking, Pfaff and others. You must purchase the correct regulator for your machine. There are differences in the internal programming and the plug ends. Grace Co. sells stitch regulators, also. I'm not sure, if Grace makes them themselves or are made by Quilter's Cruise Control and sold by Grace with the Grace name on them. I have one for both my Viking Platinum 755Q and for my Pfaff GrandQuilter Hobby 1200, which is made by Janome and identical to the 1600P.

Thank you. I would like to know if you like the one that you have for your Pfaff GrandQuilter Hobby 1200 ... does it make a notable difference in the ease of quilting? Does it indeed regulate the stitches? As you probably know, the 1600P has 3 speeds ... fast, faster, and even faster, so I would like to have a stitch regulator IF they are reliable.

I originally bought a Juki with the Grace Stitch regulator, and I now have a Bailey with a stitch regulator. I couldn't imagine trying to quilt without one -- with it, I was able to practice for just a little while (a pantograph, so basically the same pattern over and over), before doing my first quilt. With the stitch regulator you still have to try to work at an even pace, but it gives you a lot more room for error, and the results end up looking a lot nicer.

Thank you. Watching the long arm videos yesterday, I could see that it's a whole different world than my machine/frame set-up, but I would like to make what I have work for me if possible. I don't make very many quilts and, while I think I can justify the expense of a stitch regulator, I can't justify buying a long arm machine at this point in my life.

I don't understand the references to push button vs. foot peddle. The Bernina provides both methods of running the machine, but this has nothing to do with the BSR. The stitch regulator changes the machine's speed (the speed at which the needle goes up and down) to match the speed at which you move the fabric. This results in stitches with equal length. I have the Bernina stitch regulator, it works very well, and I love it. Many quilters have learned to quilt without having a stitch regulator, but most of us find that it is much easier with one. I believe that most longarms are sold with a stitch regulator, even though it is usually an additional expense.

As far as the stitch regulator for the machine and frame you have, I would ask if I could test it. Not all stitch regulators are created equal.

bailey with a stitch regulator
 

You note that you have a Bailey with a stitch regulator. Is the regulator the one that Bailey sells called Sew Control? I have an opportunity to buy a Grace Sure Stitch at a great price (for me that is) but somehow I think only the Bailey will work with the Bailey. Would appreciate your time in replying to this. Thank you.

This post is pretty old. I now have a Baby Lock Jane on a frame and have a stitch regulator. I dont recommend a domestic machine on a frame as it is a big hassle to use. But I do like the stitch regulator that cost an extra $500.
I am constantly having to run from the front of the frame to the back just to raise the needle if I need to rethread or end my sewing. To rethread I have to push the machine to the end of the frame since it threads from the side and the bobbin is a big hassel to refill also. The sewing area is also only about 4 inchs so meanering is about all I can do. Blocks are to big to put a design on. To anchor the sides of the quilt for pantographs I still havnt figured out but find you do have to sew the sides down or the needle will get stuck.

I have a friend who bought a machine last year with a stitch regulator. She taught me to quilt and has been doing it since her mother taught her. I can only tell you what she regularly repeats to me regarding her stitch regulator: I hate this thing. I should never have bought it. Unfortunately, she no longer even tries to use it. Good luck with the decision.

Janome DOES have a stitch regulator.
 

Not sure where you got your information, but Janome does offer a stitch regulator. However it runs about $500, way too expensive for me. I will try the push button method, though.

I have a stitch regulator for my Sweet 16 and I have not figured out how to run it successfully. I believe that a bit of practice will work for me to control the FMQ just fine without the regulator. For successful FMQ you need to find the perfect speed between machine speed and hand movement. With a regulator you still need to find that balance so why spend the extra money? Wish I hadn't.