Abstract: A sewing machine has at least one sewing head having a presser foot which is vertically reciprocally moved by a predetermined stroke in synchronism with a vertical movement of a needle bar. After completion of the sewing operation, an upper thread is cut in a position spaced by a suitable distance from a sewing needle mounted on the needle bar. A refuge mechanism is operable to move the presser foot to a refuge position for giving refuge to a part of the upper thread on the side of the sewing needle cut after completion of the sewing operation. The refuge position is out of the predetermined stroke.

Abstract: A presser foot and needle drive device in an embroidery machine includes a drive mechanism and a control device for vertically reciprocally moving a presser foot between upper and lower dead center. The control device operates the drive mechanism according to patterns of presser foot movements which are determined for specific sewing conditions.

Abstract: In a sewing machine having a needle bar and a shuttle driven by a main shaft and having a thread take-up lever vertically reciprocally movable in response to movement of the needle bar and the shuttle, a thread take-up lever driving device include a stroke adjusting device for adjusting a vertical stroke of the thread take-up lever in response to change of the sewing operation or in response to the material of a work fabric to be sewn.