Abstract: A method for controlling and/or regulating a sewing machine, in particular an overlock sewing machine, for a sewing operation for mechanically producing a seam (1) within a base material (2), the method including the following steps: identifying a sewing operation or an upcoming sewing operation of the sewing machine (100); setting an upper sewing speed limit (vmax) of the sewing machine (100); setting a lower sewing speed limit (vmax) of the sewing machine (100); and carrying out the sewing operation at a sewing speed between the lower sewing speed limit (vmin) and the upper sewing speed limit (vmax). A device (10) for carrying out the method is provided, and for a sewing machine (100) having the device (10), and to a computer software product (70) for use in the device (10) or in the sewing machine (100), respectively, the computer software product (70) being configured for carrying out the method.