Abstract: A suturing device for sewing animal skin or flesh having a reversely movable arcuate needle and a pivotal rocker arm, said needle and rocker arm being movable in planes at substantially right angles to each other whereby said rocker arm affords a loop in the suturing thread for each succeeding stitch afforded by the needle. When operating, the device includes a continually operating electric motor having clutch means for engaging and disengaging, as desired, a drive shaft and a driven shaft, the latter affording pivotal movement to the needle by means of an extension on the driven shaft which alternately engages drive elements on a pivotal shaft which is attached to the needle. The rocker arm is driven by the driven shaft by engagement of lugs on the driven shaft and a rocker arm shaft parallel thereto.