Abstract: A sewing station has a sewing machine and a feed device with a holder for the product being stitched that is driven by at least one drive mechanism to execute a predeterminable course of motion. To prevent damage or destruction of components of the stitching area from deviations of the holder for the produce being stitched from the predetermined course of motion, the stitching station has a monitor that includes a marking and a sensor conforming to the form of stitch to be made. These are movable relative to one another as a function of the motion of the holder for the product being stitched. The sensor is connected to a control circuit to emit a switching signal after the occurrence of an error.