Stitch Regulators
 

I've been quilting for a couple of years now and I think I'm ready to move into a nicer machine. I'm probably going to try buying something used, though I really don't know what I can get in my price range (I have about $1000 saved, and I'd be happy to wait until I have another $1000 saved if that gets me a nicer machine ... though I don't know if I'm willing to go much beyond that. I still have to buy groceries.)

I really like the idea of a stitch regulator. I know it's training wheels, but my FMQ is really terrible. Really, really terrible.

So three questions: 1) if you've used a stitch regulator, do you like them? 2) is it even possible to get a used machine in that price range that includes a stitch regulator? And 3) does anyone have a suggestion for a particular machine I should be shopping for?

Thank you!

As far as I know, the Bernina is the only domestic sewing machine that has a stitch regulator.

Baby lock just released a stitch regulator that you can use for a few of the high end machines but you have purchase it separately.

I watched the video for the Babylock stitch regulator. I can't quite figure out what it does. If I understood correctly, there's a control that you have to set for machine speed, and also stitches per inch. The woman in the video had to stop and change the machine speed setting when she wanted to go slower (to make a smaller quilting design). I don't understand that. To me, the purpose of a stitch regulator is to automatically change the machine's speed so that you get consistent stitch length. That's what the BSR does, that's what the SR on my longarm does. Does anyone have experience with the Babylock SR?

Unfortunately I have not used it either. I just got an email from them saying they had the true stitch regulator for my machine. I do know it has to be purchased in addition to the machine and cheapest I have seen people post is $999. at that price I'm going to keep practicing my FMQ :).
To Giddyupandgo, I upgraded my little Brother from Wal-Mart to a Babylock Symphony and I'm in love. it has a larger throat space and sews like a dream. I have done some FMQ and love it but I don't have a regulator. you can get it for the symphony but it's an extra purchase. I bought mine new from a dealer and it was $2100 out the door.

I have used the Bernina stitch regulator and the tru-stitch regulator on the Handiquilter sweet 16. I did not like either of them- I thought both were jerky and didn't allow me to get a nice rhythm, I also felt rounded patterns didn't look as round as I would like them to.

The BSR frequently beeped at me that I was going too fast for it (and I don't think I quilt fast, I'm rarely at my top setting).

So for me, I would say totally not worth the money. What got me good at quilting was practice.


As for budget, $1000 WITH a stitch regulator is going to be tough.

I really do not think it is worth it for a domestic machine. I have it on my longarm.

Not true babylock now has them but the stitch regulator by itself is over a 1000. Stitch regulators can be pricey. Brothers and babylocks do have the AHA system built into their TOL machines which regulates the tension automatically. I got a babylock espire used for 1800 and did not need a stitch regulator, tension was good you just had to practice the speed of your hands. A lot of it is practice and I don't think regulators are necessary as many people FMQ without them. You can now buy the stitch regulator for those TOL babylock machines like the espire but again you will shell out about another 1200 bucks

Skittl, I was under the impression that the BSR only works on a Bernina, and only on some models. It ties in with the electronics. It definitely isn't meant to be used with a longarm, where the speed (stitches per minute) is much higher. Is it possible that the SR you tried with the handiquilter was a different brand? There are quite a few on the market to be used with machines on frames.

I used the BSR on my Bernina quite a bit until I bought a longarm. I loved it! I also have a SR on the longarm and personally would not be without it. There's so much to concentrate on that I need the extra bit of help that the SR provides.

I just got a Juki 2010Q and I know there are stitch regulators that work with it (part of my reasoning for that machine was it could be upgraded if I so desired).

I have a Bernina With the BSR, and I love it. I have had my machine a little over 4 years, so you might be able to get one, that someone traded in when they up graded. I tried FMQing before I got my BSR and there was just no way. I would recommend the BSR anyday!!

Sorry my grammar was poor. I have used the bsr on various berninas. I have used the tru stitch on the sweet 16 (a sit down, no frame). I assumed people would know I used the bsr on a bernina because that is what it can be used on. The tru stitch can also be used on some baby locks if I understand correctly, I haven't used it on those.

Sorry, I should have realized that's what you meant. My BSR beeped at me occasionally too.

I, too, vote for continue saving up for a used Bernina with a BSR -- like the 440. Please don't think of a stitch regulator as training wheels. It is a very nice tool. I've done FMQ for about 1 and a half years now doing with and without the BSR and definitely prefer the BSR. Good luck.

I bought a Bernina 440 with the BSR back in October for $2500. It was used -- original buyer traded in for an upgrade. I bought it from my LQS, a Bernina dealer. I saw one on Craigslist for $1800, but without the BSR, around the same time.

It took me many years to get to the point where I could spend that much on a sewing machine. Not just able to afford it, but also feeling ok to spend that much on a sewing machine! But I have not had a single regret. I LOVE this machine. I've done more sewing in the last 3 months than I have in the last 20 years combined, and truly enjoy it.

Keep saving and get what you really want. It'll be worth the wait.

I have worked on a Nolting Hobby quilter with a SR but I did not use it, but my friend using it loved it. She said that once you use it you don't want to work without it.

I bought a Janome 1600 (9" throat) used for $400 and a stitch regulator for it from Allbrands.com for $500.

You might want to check Allbrands, it's possible there is a stitch regulator available that is compatible with a machine you already own.

I bought a stitch regulator for my Baby Lock Jane but it is on a long arm table. It cost $500.
It dosnt do any thing for speed it just keeps the stitches the same size no matter how fast you go.

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't know about Allbrands so that's a good tip! I had been thinking I'd like the Bernina 440 QE but it sounds like it might be hard to get one in my price range. It is good to know you can get the stitch regulators for other machines--I definitely need something that will help me keep all my stitches the same size.

Thanks again!

I have a Bernina 820 with the BSR & that machine cost me $7500.00 here in Canada. I am sure it is cheaper in the U.S. Obviously at that price point the BSR is included with this machine - I believe it cost about $1300.00 if purchased separately.

I have the Bernina 550 and also the Bernina 830 LE, both have the stitch regulator, which I love. You can turn off the beeping sound if you don't like the noise, and then you can move the switch to regulate your speed, or you can just leave them on. It really does keep your stitches regulated and looks very nice for quilting or top stitching purposes.
Perhaps check with your Bernina dealer, and ask for a demonstration of the stitch regulator on one of their machines.
They will probably even let you try it out. No better way to find out for yourself, than to see exactly how it works.
I think you will be impressed, and you deserve to have a good working machine. Best of luck in your search.

I have stitch regulator for my Juki 2010 for the mini pinnacle frame and on my long arm, but I don't know how to use a stitch regulator on a regular sewing machine. The stitch regulators I have seen attach to the frame so don't have a clue. When I quilt without a frame I set my stitch speed and you can get really great at regulating your stitches manually.

I bought my Bernina 440 QE in 2006 for $2000, and it came with a stitch regulator. I love it! I agree that you can do the FMQ without it if you really practice and practice and practice, and are really an artist. I am not, so it helps me a lot for FMQ.

You might want to look at a Brother ( and other machines may do this, too) where you can control the speed with a push of a button and it stays the same speed, rather than your controlling it with your foot pedal. Not exactly a stitch regulator, but it takes one variable out of the FMQ process, and seems to make controlling your stitching easier.

The Viking Sapphire 875Q has a speed button with about 5 settings. When doing FMQ, I set it to either 2 or 3 for a nice slow speed. Then I only have to concentrate on moving the quilt. It helps a lot and works for people like me who can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

I say "go for the stitch regulator" and choose a new machine only if you can't get a regulator for it. I have a Gammill that came with the stitch regulator and it is the best thing that ever happened to me in my quilting experience. But it took a ton of money (and was a Christmas gift from DH 4 or 5 years ago). If you are accustomed to quilting with your personal sewing machine, my comment would be just adding the stitch regulator to it would be the least expensive thing to add to it for you to do your quilting. That in itself is going to require another learning session. I have never tried using a home sewing machine to quilt (only on a place mat with straight lines stitching) and did not like it at all. I had all kinds of wonky edges when I finished, and had to trim my finished place mat way down.....Good luck as you work your way through this decision. Sincerely, Jo Ann

If you have an opportunity to go to one of the larger quilt shows (there are others around the country besides Houston and Paducah--check to see which ones might be reasonable for you to travel to) you can visit with the representatives of the companies that make basically all the machines known to humankind. I have a Juki 98Q that fits into a Gracie frame, though I don't have the frame. I already had the Juki and almost bought the frame but then didn't--I don't really have anyplace to keep something large like this set up. But I was able to practice with the whole assembly, which included a stitch regulator that worked with this system. You can buy these Juki machines (mine is the 98Q, there is the 2010, and a whole additional series of Jukis that I think would also work with this system), The frame of course can't handle anything with a deeper throat that those Jukls, which is about 9 inches, but all in all it looked like it worked very well. You can buy the Juki machines of this type (straight stitch and reverse only, no zigzag, but powerhouses) used very often, frequently for $500 or so. If you do very large quilts, queens or kings for example, this this setup might not be for you but it looked sweet to me. But in general I'd try to make a trip to a quilt show where all the different makes of machines are there and eager to sell one of their machines to you. All of them will let you try the various models out for hours if you want to before you buy.

I have one on my Sweet 16. I don't like it. It's jerky and the changing speed (keeping up with me) drives me crazy. I am just learning to do it myself. Not perfect but that's OK.

I presently presently a Bernina 830 that has a BSR (Bernina stitch regulator) and would recommend the Bernina as well as the 450. I purchased both used. Bernina is a quality machine and I think with the BSR your stitches will improve. I also find that I cannot FMQ w/o my gloves with the nubbies to grip the quilt. The gloves are available at the LQS.

My local dealer is great about trade ins. And Bernina corp. has a plan that for many months, you can have interest free credit for your purchase. Ask about both.

BabyLock just released their Tru Stitch Regulator which fits many machines in the Babylock line. MSRP is $1500. You do need to have a Babylock machine that this will fit. I am very anxious to hear from anyone who has purchased the stitch regulator to here some reviews on it. I feel it is quite pricey however if it would help me with my FMQ I'm willing to save up for it. This will be an interesting read to follow.

I have a Bernina with the stitch regulator. I have not had time to really pratice, but I find that you have to guide your fafric in sync with the stitching--some of my stitches are "toe-tail hangers" and some are piled up! In other words, your stitch length is determined by the movement of the fabric.

The Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold just added a stitch regulator as an option. I have an Ellisimo Gold and I have tried the stitch regulator. I like it better than the Bernina BSR that I tried a couple of years ago. The BL stitch regulator works a lot smoother. Having said that, I'm sure the Bernina BSR has probably been improved since I tried it. I opted not to get the stitch regulator for my Ellisimo Gold because DH thinks I would be better satisfied with the Baby Lock Crown Jewel mid arm. The bad news is that we have to practically rearrange our whole house to make room for it. lol We will move the guest room downstairs to what was our son's bedroom until he married. Since that time, it has been a storage room, since we don't really need 4 bedrooms for 2 people---Unless we are using them for sewing/quilting/embroidery rooms. Our daughter's room was converted to a computer room for DH after she married and moved out. It now also has a 10 needle embroidery machine in it. DH does all our design digitizing. After we move the guest room downstairs, we will move my sewing center cabinet into the old guest room. That will make room for the Crown Jewel in my sewing studio. It is going to take a while to get all this done. Hopefully we will accomplish it by spring. It gives me something to look forward to.

I thought Pfaff came out with a stitch regulator about 15 years ago. I am not sure, though.

That was the built in dual feed system (walking foot), not stitch regulator. It works great for all fabrics, but doesn't do stitch regulation.

I don't own a longarm, but from my experience with one - I would never get one without a regulator. For a sit down, however, I think the regulators are more trouble than they are worth. I did not like it at all.

Bernina had a holiday coupon for the BSR for $700, so anyone interested in it should watch for sales- it is very expensive at full price!

I have a Bernina 440QE with the stitch regulator and I could not go without it there are 2 settings for it one stops when your hands stop moving that one does beep when you go to fast to make a nice curve the other setting does not stop until the machine is turned off I use that one the most since I have gotten use to it I even free motion embroidery with it now any stamped pattern I love doing dish towels check with a Bernina dealer as the 440 has been replced and you may find one being traded in