Abstract: The invention relates to an embroidery machine for embroidering embroidery fabric (23), particularly for chain stitching and drop stitching. The embroidery machine has an embroidery head (1), located above the embroidery fabric (23), and an embroidery needle (2) is movably supported in the embroidery head (1) in such a way that by means of drive mechanisms, the embroidery needle (2) is movable up and down and is also rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The embroidery machine also has a stitch plate (3), which is located below the embroidery fabric (23) and on which at least some of the embroidery fabric (23) rests during the embroidering. A thread layer (18) is located on the side of the stitch plate (3) remote from the embroidery fabric (23) and guides the embroidery thread (10) for stitching, and by rotation of the thread layer (18) the embroidery thread (10) can be laid around the embroidery needle (2) that has pierced the embroidery fabric (23).