Abstract: An overcast sewing machine in which a plurality of different stitch types can be sewn.Various designs are disclosed for sewing alternatingly the stitch types 512 and 514, which consist of two needle threads, one lower looper thread and one overcast looper thread. In one design, the holder of the overcast looper can be fixed in a first working position, in which both needle threads are interlinked with the overcast looper thread, and can be displaced into a second working position, in which only one needle thread is interlinked with the overcast looper thread. According to another design, two thread eyes are provided in the overcast looper and the overcast looper thread is threaded through one of these thread eyes to form one of the stitch types and through the other thread eye to form the other stitch type. In addition, stitch type 504, consisting of three threads, can be formed by removing one needle.