I like to stipple areas of my quilts. Stippling can be hard work....I understand that there is now available a "stitch regulator" for home sewing machines that is suppose to make this easier. Do you have any information about these stitch regulators. I have a pfaff machine and would be interested in getting one if they "work."

Eunice

I have a Bernina 730 sewing machine with a stitch regulator. I love it but you still have to do the quilting yourself. The stitch regulator keeps the stitches at a uniform length. I don't know if they are available for all machines, but I recommend checking into it. It's well worth the money.

I've heard of stitch regulators for long arm machines but I thought the length of your stitch was determuned by how fast and far you move the quilt.

i can spell determined i just can't type lol

What is stippling?

Hi Kathy, When free motion quilting, the length of stitch is regulated by how fast or slow you move the quilt but if the movement of your quilt isn't consistent your stitches aren't all the same length. A stitch regulator senses how fast the quilt is moving and helps regulate the stitch length even if you don't move your quilt at the same speed all the time. It takes practice either way, but a stitch regulator makes it a lot easier. My machine isn't a long arm. Bernina makes home sewing machines with stitch regulators.

Hi Ruthie, Stippling is a type of quilting where you drop the feed dogs and stitch a continuous curvy line of stitching that never crosses over itself. There are no corners and the space between lines is about 1/4" or less. If it's much larger than that, it's called meandering. If you go to the following link, it will show you a demonstration.
http://www.taunton.com/Threads/pages/tvt035.asp

Minda, thanks for clearing that up. I prefer meander to stipple because to me stipple makes a quilt less snuggly. I do like the look though. I may check to see if my Singer can use a stitch regulator.

The only machine that has that is the Bernina, not sure about the long arms, I think some of them have them also. But I know, unless it has come out in the past month or two for other machines, that Bernina is the only one. Ask me how I know this........ I tried and tried.

Donna

I don't have a stitch regulator for my Elna and there are none available for it. So I made one. To a block of wood about 6"x12"x1" I attached a strip of wood about 1/2" thick across one end. The foot pedal rests on the base up against the wood strip so I can press down all the way but the machine is only going about half speed. After using this for over a year I find that most of the time for free motion quilting I can now coordinate the speed of my hands and the machine without my "speed controller". May be a crude solution -- but it sure helped me.

PattySue, aren't you too clever! I have often heard that necessity is the mother of invention. You have proven that adage. Thank you for posting your solution.

The below site has stich reg. It will let you know what models have them
http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp09265-1175.html

Minda or anybody, can you give me some idea about the price of a bernina? I checked them out on their site and think I would like to approach my husband about buying one but have no idea how much they are hundreds or thousands?

Thanks
kathy

PattySue, our mama used the block of wood when my sisters and I were learning to sew. She managed to control our "lead foot" sewing if not in our driving later on. Ha!

I bought the new Bernina with the stitch regulator. I love it. It counts the threads so supposedly the stitches will all be the same. (I can override that! It took me no practice at all!!! Ha-ha!!) Overall though, the regulator makes free-motion quilting very, very easy. Once you try it you'll want one. I have a niece to blame for my buying the Bernina. OH, yes, She let me try hers!

I also own a Pfaff which I love because of the built in dual feed. I read somewhere that they were also coming out with a stitch regulator. Keep looking.

Meanwhile I piece with the Pfaff and quilt with "Nina".

Kathy, To get a new Bernina with a stitch regulator, you will pay thousands. I don't remember the exact price of mine. Try checking online to find a Bernina store close to you and check out their prices. Some Bernina dealers sell used machines that are like new and still under warranty, but the previous owner just wanted to update to a newer model. Be sure to ask lots of questions and try out the machines before you buy. Good luck.

Minda

I just purchases a Bernina sewing and embroidery. The price is a little over seven thousand. The shop has it own order and will ship on the 8th.
Looking forward to getting it but know I will be taking many lessons from the shop. I want to be able to use everything on it. At that price I had better learn or needed to have stayed with my Phaff.... sewing only
Beth

WOW!!!!! I'm speechless, I had NO idea. I was hoping for 1 grand max.
I may NEVER own one.
kathy

When I buy something 'large' we always laugh and say, "That's what I worked 31 years for!" Plus I have the advantage of being married to a man that likes his computers up-to-date! The Bernina was my new 'computer!'

I got the Bernina without the embroidery function. (I'd rather do that by hand.) So my machine was a little less. Just start saving your pennies, Kathy. Also, as more machines develope stitch regulators and as this becomes more 'everday' on the machines I'm sure the prices will drop. Don't give up!

It will probably be my new car if I ever get one! LOL
so like how much less? I could do without the embroidery too as I like to do that by hand also.
kathy

Kathy,
I have the Bernina, Aurora 440 and paid a little over $3000. Still a lot but not bad when I compare it to my husbands newest apple computer at the time! :lol:

I bought my machine at a quilt fair and got "such a deal!" Oh, well. I wanted it and I had worked a long time. It's time to play now! I do like my toys just as much as my husband likes his!

<<If you go to the following link, it will show you a demonstration.
http://www.taunton.com/Threads/pages/tvt035.asp >>

Thanks for the link!

Kathy, Try to find a Bernina dealer near you that sells used machines. Some Bernina dealers sell used machines that are like new and still under warranty, but the previous owner just wanted to update to a newer model. You may be able to find something in your price range, especially if you don't want the embroidery module with it. Be sure to ask lots of questions and try out the machines before you buy. Good luck.

Minda

My mom had put her machine into one of the old sewing cabinets that had the treddle, she put the foot contoll under the treddle and positioned it till she got the speed she wanted.
My sister and I also had lead feet and learned to sew on that machine. A couple a weeks ago I found a cabinet like that and set it up for my grandaughter to learn on.

Kathy,

I too would love to get the Bernina. I've priced them and depending on the dealer, I've been quoted $2700-$3500 for the machine. This is without the embroidery unit.

Carolann

Kathy,

I too would love to get the Bernina. I've priced them and depending on the dealer, I've been quoted $2700-$3500 for the machine. This is without the embroidery unit and is the 440 QE model.

Carolann

what can the rest of us do that have older model Singers? it sure would be great if a "bypass" could be installed in our foot pedals or something. i'm pretty new to piecing (I've only done 4 quilts) and I've never done quilting at all. i'm too afraid to try because i'm inconsistent with my speeds still, and getting someone to longarm a quilt is expensive! :oops:

could i see a pic of the home-made one you did for your foot pedal please? anything would help. thank you.

i know there is a stitch regulator for the pfaff 2170. it was on ebay 2 days ago and went for about $600. i am also interested in the answer to your question. is this thing worth the $??

jeanne

i know there is a stitch regulator for the pfaff 2170. it was on ebay 2 days ago and went for about $600. i am also interested in the answer to your question. is this thing worth the $??

jeanne

i have the 730 with the bsr as well, but no matter what i do, i cannot get the stitch right. the top looks great, but the back is like a straight line with just little dots of the other thread. i have tried changing the tension etc, but no success.
do you have hints.
thanks

I checked the price of a regulator for my janome 6500. $600.00

I am thinking about it!

Eunice - If I am not mistaken, there are two available for Pfaff. One is called the Fabric Mover and the other is Fab-U-Motion. I think that the Mover was the first and the other was the newer follow on (different manufactures as well)

They work pretty well (very similar to the Viking ones). However the actual quilting area is on the small size and you need to move it often. I am not sure that I would want to quilt a queen size quilt on them - but I will tell you that on small projects they are great. I think it also depends on the machine that you have. You would have to do some research on it.

Is there a stitch regulator for the Viking Lily 545?

Stitch regulators are made for straight stitch machines mounted on a frame. The machines are reasonably priced at around $600. They only have a 9 inch throat space.
The stitch regulator costs $500.
Then you need a frame. You can get small ones that only hold a crib size or you can get one that can be set up small or large. I opted for large.
By the time I added the delivery and install it ran me $2300.

Ever notice how those Apple and other computers kept coming down and down in price even as their power increased almost exponentially, while those computerized sewing machines went up and up?? Computers and software keep getting cheaper and more powerful. Why not sewing machines?

I have the Lily 545 and last time I checked with the Viking dealer (about a year ago) it was not available for that machine.

I was afraid of that. Thanks for the reply.