Stitch Regulator
 

I bought a Brother PQ 1500s. I mostly wanted it for the throat space for FM. I was looking at stitch regulators and was wondering are these only used when you are quilting on a frame or are they good just for doing FM? I don't have a frame. I need all the help I can get being new to FM and keeping my stitches even.

Thanks

Keep practicing, praticing and practicing LOL and slow down when you are going around a corner. Leah Day is doing some fantastic tutorials on beginning FMQ at the moment, worth having at look at.

Be sure and try the stitch regulator before purchasing as some like it while other don't. It is not the cure all for your FMQ I am told it has a long learning curve.

The actual stitch regulators I have seen are only for on the frame. the only other thing I have seen is a stitch speed regulator - which I have for my Juki TLQ9E. It controls the max speed you can sew. This does not need to have a frame for use.

i think the only sit down regulator is on the Bernina. i don't have one, but it must work with a laser or similar. the ones for the frame have wheels that attach to the vertical and horizontal components of the carriage to detect the movement. i think they are machine specific. i have one and had to specify that it's for my juki

A stitch regulator is a costly add on to using a frame mounted machine. It coordinates the speed of the machine with your speed of moving it so the stitches come out even. If you're using your machine on a tabletop, just give yourself time, time, time. It takes a lot of practise to get really good a FMQ, but once you get the hang of moving the quilt smoothly, you'll see your stitches improve. Hang in there. If you want to practise on less expensive quilts, just use preprinted panels, quilt them up and give them away! The recipients will love them, not care if the stitches are a bit wonky, and you can chalk it up to practise!

I have a Bernina (not a LA) with the stitch regulator and I love it. I can FM quilt as fast or as slow as I want.