Meet the Newest Member of the Studio: A 1994 Gammill With Brand-New Perfect Stitch Regulation

Happy Feature Friday, quilting friends! There's no quilt on the frame this week. Instead, Aubrey has a surprise. In Feature Friday 2026 Episode 44, she introduces her new longarm, which is really new to her.

A Well-Loved Gammill, Updated From the Inside Out

This little Gammill is far from new. It's been dated to 1994, it has an 18-inch throat space, and Aubrey believes models like it were called Premieres. The paint is wearing off in a few spots, which shows just how well-loved she's been.

What makes this machine special is what's inside. It now has Quilt EZ Perfect Stitch stitch regulation. The motor has been replaced, and all of the electronics have been updated, all the way up to the handlebars, the handlebar buttons, and the lighting, so she can keep working hard for years to come.

When Quilt EZ upgrades a machine's stitch regulation, the goal is to keep it as true to its original form as possible. From the outside, it still looks like a classic Gammill.

Not Just Butlers: Stitch Regulation for Older Machines

A lot of people think of Quilt EZ only for Butler Robotics and longarm automation, but stitch regulation is part of the lineup too. If you have an older machine whose stitch regulation is failing, has stopped working, or was never included in the first place, it may be possible to update or add it.

Beyond Gammills, Quilt EZ has added stitch regulation to APQS, Nolting, Juki, Pfaff, Tin Lizzie, and Husqvarna machines, and the list goes on. If you're curious whether your machine is a candidate, give Quilt EZ a call or send an email.

A Few Favorite Features So Far

Aubrey is still learning her new setup, but a few things already stand out.

One screen for everything. Because this machine has a Ruby, the stitch regulation and the Butler Robotics system are fully integrated and talk to each other. There's no second display stacked on top. A tap on the little robot icon switches into the Butler system, so setting up a pattern and stitching it out all happen in one place.

Bright, adjustable lighting, plus black light. A slider bar (or the plus and minus buttons) dims or brightens the lights, which is handy for threading a needle. There's also a black light setting, which could be a big help on white-on-white quilts or with glow-in-the-dark and neon threads. It's also just plain fun.

Programmable handlebar buttons. There are four buttons, two on each handlebar, and each one can be assigned a function. Right now Aubrey's are set up like this:

• Green: start stitching

• Red: stop stitching

• Yellow: needle up/needle down

• Purple: tie off (three stitches, of course)

User profiles for sharing. Quilters love to share, and with separate user profiles, a visiting friend can rearrange the buttons, for example putting start on the other side if they're left-handed. They can also keep their own speed and stitches-per-inch settings. Nobody messes up anybody else's setup.

Four stitching modes.

• Precision mode: stitch-regulated stitching. Aubrey uses 12 stitches per inch with her robotic system.

• Manual mode: for free-motion quilters, with adjustable speed.

• Idle mode: a mix of the two, with a stitches-per-inch setting and a speed. The needle keeps idling slowly when you stop moving, which many people like for ruler work.

• Baste mode: one, two, or three stitches per inch for big basting stitches.

What This Means for Future Videos

If you watch along with Feature Friday, you'll notice a few changes. Because the Ruby integrates everything, Aubrey won't see as many on-screen prompts, like the ones telling her to bring the needle down, cycle the needle, or tie off. She'll still point out what those prompts look like, since everyone's system is a little different. The new machine is also much quieter than her last one, so don't be surprised when the studio sounds a bit different.

The Takeaway

An older longarm doesn't have to be retired. With updated stitch regulation, new electronics, and Butler integration, a 1994 Gammill can feel like a brand-new machine. Welcome to the family, little Gammill!

There will be a quilt back on the frame next week. In the meantime, check out the full introduction here: Feature Friday 2026 Episode 44: Aubrey's New Machine.