Being a newbe to quilting - I hope this is not a silly question.

What is a stitch regulator and why do you need one?

It is a device used for FMQ. It "regulates the speed of the stitching" as you move the fabric around. :D:D:D

Bernina has one and some of the long arm machines have them as well. I think Bernina is the only non long arm company to have one. It keeps all the stitches the same size regardless of how fast you're free motion quilting.

It's not a silly question, we all have to start somewhere!

A Stitch Regular allows you to quilt at any speed, keeping the stitches uniform in length.

Lanny

by "regulating" amma means that the stitch regulator automatically coordinates the speed of the needle with the speed with which you are moving the fabric around...this ensures that your stitches will be of equal length...without a regulator, if you are barely moving the fabric and the needle is going really fast, you end up with very tiny stitches...and if you are moving the fabric really fast and the needle is moving slowly, the stitches will be really long, which is not a good look for machine quilting. A quilter can successfully machine quilt without a stitch regulator...many have and do...but having one makes it a lot easier to get the look you want the first time. If you don't have a stitch regulator you'll probably need to practice, practice, practice before your stitches look consistent.

Are stitch regs built into the machine or can you buy one as an attachment?

My question also.

I would like to know too.

some machines have them built in...Bernina is one, and I've seen ads for another brand that has one that can be attached, but can't remember the brand (it's not Janome or elna or else I would have remembered it since they're my machine brands!) and have not heard any reports on how well it works. Many longarm machines have it built in as well.