Abstract: A sewing machine having an upper thread supply, a main thread take-up lever and a needle, is provided with an automatic upper thread tension device for absorbing slackening of the upper thread during its supplying phase. The tension device includes a thread tension member arranged between the upper thread supply and the main thread take up lever to impart an adjustable pretension to the upper thread. A thread presser is arranged laterally of the path of the upper thread between the main thread take-up lever and the needle to guide the upper thread from the thread tension member to the main thread take-up lever and to clamp the upper thread and release the same during the predetermined supplying phase. An auxiliary thread take-up lever is arranged between the main take-up lever and the needle and cooperating with a thread guide to draw the slackened part of the upper thread against the guide during the supplying phase.