Abstract: A thread take-up arm drive means for a multihead embroidery machine in which identical heads have automatic color change capability such that the color thread stitched on the plurality of embroidery heads is changed substantially simultaneously. A sliding carriage associated with each head contains a plurality of associated color stitching sets of thread take-up arms and needle bars. Each color stitching set is for stitching a different color thread. A computer controls a step motor to position the carriage and thus place the particular color stitching set in contact with the drive means. The thread take-up arm drive means is a pushplate biased in an up position by a leaf spring having adjustable tension. A cam follower is attached to the pushplate and moves the pushplate cyclically under force of and according to the design of the periphery of a cam. The cam is attached to the drive shaft that drives both the thread take-up arm and the needle bar of a color stitching set.