Most of you know that I use a Juki (9″ throat) on a Grace frame to do my quilting. Don has promised me a new setup in the future but we haven’t decided when that will be. I’m pretty sure it will at least be next year so he can get over converting the barn to a studio first.
I have a Grace Sure Stitch on my Juki. It’s a stitch regulator and it works pretty well but it’s not quite as sensitive as I think it should be but it beats the heck out of me trying to get a consistent stitch on my own.
There’s been a discussion on the GraceMachineFrame list about the Sure Stitch and what the number settings mean. I decided to do a sample strip of all the numbers. #1 = long basting stitch on my machine. #9 is a tiny, close stitch. The user manual says the “stitch length” can be set from “1” to “10” but mine only goes to “9”.
Stitch Lengths #1, #2, #3
Stitch Lengths #4, #5, #6
Stitch Lengths #7, #8, #9
I know this picture quality isn’t the best in the world but you can see that #1 is a loose stitch and they gradually get smaller all the way up to #9. #5 is the default setting.
I learned something new about my system today and I think that counts toward my Bucket List goal. 🙂
Quilting Tizzy 
JulieT
/ March 10, 2011That’s interesting! Think I’ll do my own after I finish the panto practice crib sized sandwich I have on there now. The Sure Stitch has been interesting, that’s for sure 🙂
Quilting Tizzy
/ March 13, 2011It would be a good idea for everyone to do the test on their machine as each one may be different from mine. At least it will give you and idea of what to expect on your machine.
Charlene Wright
/ March 12, 2011Yes, that is very interesting, confirms what I thought, since there is not alot of documentation from Grace on it….I’ve just about given up expecially because when you stop the movement, mine keeps stitching until I turn it off, you’d think it would stop too……not real happy about it, but like you, dreaming of something different……and I have only had my set up less than a year!
Quilting Tizzy
/ March 13, 2011I agree that documentation and instruction are Grace’s Achille’s heel. I did find in the user manual where it said the Sure Stitch regulates the stitch length. That answered my main question about that part.
Like you, I don’t like the way it continues to “pulse” as they call it. For $500 I think it should be much more sensitive.
I’m not totally dissatisfied with my set-up, but I’m not sure I’ll ever buy another Grace product. That said, their newest frame does look interesting.
Karen a/k/a/ TheLazyQuilter
/ March 13, 2011Hi! You were nice enough to reply to me about putting galvanized steel on the LGII rollers to keep them from bending. Would you have a pic? Thx so much! I’m really disappointed with my LGII but don’t have $$$ to upgrade.
Quilting Tizzy
/ March 13, 2011I’ll try to take some pics and do a post about them. It may not be for a bit as I have a few things to take care of first. 🙂
Gloria J Wellington
/ March 16, 2011Sheryl, I’ve just found your blog, coming from another and thank you very much for your wonderful block of the month. I’ve posted the dates for each block on my calendar. I’ve been over to the Granny’s Hankies from your site and see that they started in January as well. However I’ve missed the first two blocks….ah well… not as long a time limit for the blocks as you!!
Thank you Sheryl
Hugs Gloria
Donna
/ March 18, 2011I also have the Juki TL98E and have been thinking about getting a gracie sure stitch but when I called them they told me it is not compatable with the TL98E. Do you have a compatability problem?
Quilting Tizzy
/ April 26, 2011Donna, I don’t think it works as well with the TL98E as with other Juki models. They may had stopped selling them after we had so much trouble getting mine to work.
Joy P
/ April 3, 2011I’m seriously considering getting a Grace Pro frame, Juki 2000 or 2010 and the Grace stitch regulator primarily because it is affordable versus a mid or long arm bundle. You mentioned a GraceMachineFrame list in your post, is this a Yahoo group? From what I’ve seen, other stitch regulator have the same issue you have mention (I looked at a Bernina with a regulator, if there was even the slightest movement it continued to stitch).
Quilting Tizzy
/ April 26, 2011Here’s the link to the group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GraceMachineFrame/
Sure Stitch pulses even at a complete stop.
Norma
/ April 21, 2011from what I read “0” is the “10” stitch setting.
I just got mine in the mail yesterday (used for $350) so I’ll be playing around with it. So far I’m glad I didn’t fork over $500+ for it
Quilting Tizzy
/ April 26, 2011I just re-checked my Sure Stitch and it does have “0” but it’s below “1”. I’ll do another test when I can get to it to see how it stitches but I’d think “0” would be a tighter stitch than “1”.
I’m glad you were able to get your for less money!
Mary
/ September 13, 2012I derailed my juki and broke the bracket the holds the encoder wheel or the Sure stitch to the carriage wheel. Does anyone have a non functional sure stitch with an intact bracket I could buy?
Mary H
/ October 13, 2012Haven’t had my sure stitch but about 4months and it seems to be the long stitch on every # any sugestions for a smaller stitch.
Quilting Tizzy
/ October 13, 2012Mary, I would call the Grace company to see if they can offer any help. It sounds like the brain of the Sure Stitch isn’t working properly.
Mary H
/ October 13, 2012I was hoping it would be something simple. Thank you I will do that
Mary H
/ October 14, 2012Ah when all else fails un plug and replug everything. Seemed to work stitches are back now to various sizes but my thread seems to be breaking, I changed needle, cleaned out bobbin area and am threaded right any suggestions here?
Michelle Wolfrum
/ March 28, 2013I just purchased a used Juki98Q and a Grace pinnacle frame. I am new at quilting on a frame and using a Juki. It came with a grace Sure stitch. I am having a few issues. As I am sewing it sort of hesitates and stops and starts right back up. I also keep breaking needles. Do you have any Idea what I might try to correct this. I would appreciate and advice.
Quilting Tizzy
/ March 29, 2013Hi Michelle. It sounds to me that the encoder wheels aren’t making continuous contact with the rails. Very slowly move the carriage while watching the wheels move. Does it do it in all directions or just horizontally or vertically?
Or, it could be what was wrong with mine.
Mine stopped and started and I called it the “herky jerkies”. We missed an important little word in the installation instructions (which are very poorly written/illustrated). That word was “opposite”. Read your instructions and look for that word. I don’t remember exactly what it said but see if you have that part mounted in the wrong place. As soon as we fixed that, mine worked just fine and still does.
Hope this helps.