interesting thread--just at a Machine quilters today and the program was on using rulers on domestic or sit-down machines--and some tips with LA. The presenter is experienced in using domestic, sit-down and LA and said that while she insists on a SR for LA, she doesn't even suggest you buy one for a domestic or sit-down as the process if very awkward and disruptive to the "zen" (her words) motion you develop with practice on them. Interesting thought process.

I have a BERNINA 550 with a stitch regulator foot. I love it. I can FMQ without it, but when i’m tired or distracted, it keeps my stitches looking nice.

I have lightening stitch on my Innova longarm and it is worth every penny. I don't outrun it. I can turn it on or off. Originally I learned to stitch without it.

I had an add on stitch regulator on my Bailey mid arm, and it was hit and miss. The biggest problem was the machine itself did not have a high end stitch speed, so even with the regulator, it was really easy to move the machine faster than it could stitch so you'd still get uneven stitches.

My HQ came with one, and I've never had any problems with it. Every once in a while I do turn it off for microstitching. I love that I can set it in precision mode (starts and stops exactly how I move the machine) or the other setting where it will continue to stitch at a very slow speed (you can adjust it) when you stop moving. This allows for me to take an extra stitch at corners when changing directions, and it also stops the jerky start/stops.

I've played a bit on sit down machines with them, and didn't like them near as much. Some seemed to be not near as responsive so you'd always get a bit of larger stitches when starting to move.

I have a Bernina domestic sewing machine with a SR and I've not looked back. I will only piece my quilts on a Pfaff with the dual feed and I only quilt on the Bernina with the SR. I know what works for me and I stick with it! I can quilt without the SR but not as easily done or as consistent! Try it in the shop first. It only took me a couple of minutes into a test run to know that I wanted the SR.

As far as I know, the Bernina is the only DSM with a true SR, the BSR. I have the 440QE, and learned FMQ with the BSR. When I got a longarm (Innova) I bought it with the standard SR, and it did a great job. While it was possible to move your hands too fast with the Bernina and outrun the SR, that didn't happen at all with the Innova's SR. Last year I upgraded the Innova SR to Lightning Stitch, a much improved SR that wasn't available yet when I first purchased the Innova. There are differences in the ability of a SR to provide even stitches when you start suddenly, make jerky movements, or go in and out of points. Innova's standard SR is good, but Lightning Stitch is even better. It's a pricey upgrade, but well worth it IMHO.

Thanks, dunster. That is a very enlightening post. I will print and save that.
I have the BSR and learned to FMQ with it on my Bernina 440QE. I have tried to do it without the BSR a few times, but it was a disaster. Yes, sometimes I move so fast that the BSR cannot keep up with me, but most times it does just fine. I tried meanders of different sizes and was amazed at how easy it was and how nice it looked, even if I did cross over the threads a few times.

This is MHO: I am not in a speed race to see how fast I can go. That mind-set (for me) takes away the fun of quilting. I just plod along, enjoying watching my field of accomplishment grow larger. No one has a stop-watch timing me, so I just enjoy the task at hand.

While it seems like a must have item, without it you will eventually learn to quilt with a very nice self regulated stitch length. It takes practise but it is surprising how well one can do without a stitch regulator. My sit down machine wasn’t regulated but my Longarm is. My goal is to actually go unregulated on my Longarm too at some point as a stitch regulator has its own draw backs.

So far I've been happy with the SR on my Baby Lock Coronet. I'll see what happens with more practice/experience.