Stich regulator or not
 

We are purchasing a Nolting long arm and started watching some youtube cannels on longarm quilting. Our experience right now has been at quilt shows so not a whole lot. Some of the videos I saw mentioned they would switch to manual vice keeping the stich regulator on.

Why would you want to quilt without the stich regulator?

Thanks

Mike

Some things are actually easier to quilt without the stitch regulator on, such as circles. Personal preference.

I have never turned mine off .. love it!

I also never turn mine off, even when doing micro quilting like pebbling. I took a certification class from Karen McTavish for her McTavishing fill. She taught the class to do it in unregulated mode. When I do McTavishing I still keep the SR on. But as Peckish said, it is personal preference. I don't do anything unregulated.

And the other point of view..... I tried machines with the SR and could not get use to it. Been quilting long enough without it that I am able to keep my speed level constant enough to get even stitches.

I don't use a stitch regulator and I really think I'm OK without it. I like the touch of a hand and I really enjoy free motion quilting. If a stitch isn't perfect, it's simply OK.

Stitch regulated quilting is FMQ and/or hand guided (pantos and ruler work). There is a difference between Computer guided and stitch regulated quilting. Just wanted to clarify as your post seems to indicate that stitch regulated is not FMQ and does not involve the touch of a hand which is definitely not the case.

Personally, I need a stitch regulator. My friend on the other hand learned FMQ without one and is quite good with or without.

But something to keep in mind -- stitch regulators can be horribly expensive if you go back to get one. The time to negotiate is when you are buying the setup.

I have a mid sized sit down hand controlled machine without a stitch regulator that I purchased mostly because of cost. I wish I had spent the extra money!!

I use my stitch regulator all the time. I have a Nolting also.