Abstract: In a double-needle lock-stitch sewing machine, an assembly for arresting threads being drawn from the needles by an uptake stroke of a thread lever, thereby ensuring predetermined lengths of thread at the needles for an ensuing stitch, comprises a spring-loaded clamp disposed between the sewing lever and the needles. The clamp is periodically actuatable via a system of levers in the sewing-machine head by a cam mounted on the sewing-machine base and cooperating with a radial lug on a shaft driving a rotary thread gripper and bobbin holder. A spring-loaded plate engaging a pair of thread-tension control disks is pivotable by the lever system to release the disks upon actuation of the clamp. The clamp is particularly useful in controlling the length of a leading thread portion prior to beginning a sewing seam.