What Is a Sewing Machine Stitch Regulator?

A stitch regulator aides in machine quilting.

Quilting is an old art form that is continually evolving today. Newer sewing machines have many features that make the life of the quilter easier. A stitch regulator is one of them.

Quilt Sandwich

After the piecing of your quilt is done, you are ready to layer the top, batting and backing and quilt through the whole thing, that is, stitch through all three layers to hold everything in place.

Free-motion Quilting

When doing free-motion machine quilting, a quilter puts on a special quilting foot, drops the feed teeth and moves the fabric with her hands into various swirls and shapes. Meanwhile, she is still using the foot pedal to control the up-and-down movement of the needle. If her hand timing and foot timing aren't coordinated, the stitches will vary in length from very short to very long.

Even Stitches

A stitch regulator is an attachment that works with a computerized sewing machine to create even stitches during free-motion machine quilting. Different brands of stitch regulators work in different ways; some are attachment feet and some have a complete movable table attachment. The quilter still moves the quilt with his hands and controls the needle with his foot, but the stitch regulator senses the movement and adjusts the stitches accordingly. A quilter who is new to free-motion quilting can have even looking stitches that usually come with years of practice.

References

• Bernina USA: Stitch Regulator
• Pfaff: Fabric Mover With Stitch Regulator
• IntelliStitch: Stitch Regulators