Abstract: Stitches on alternate sides of a fabric workpiece are produced by the operation of a sewing machine whose needle has a laterally open eye formed with a double-hook contour so that a thread is carried downwardly through the fabric by the eye during a first phase of the initial reciprocation cycle of the needle, the needle is withdrawn upwardly through the fabric without thread during the second phase of this cycle, the needle passes downwardly through the fabric without a thread during the first phase of the next cycle and carries the thread upwardly through the fabric during the second phase of this latter cycle. Below the fabric is a rotary disk having a hook which engages the thread as it passes downwardly through the fabric to draw an entire free thread length out and enable same to be positioned by a thread taker for engagement in the eye of the needle during the upstroke of its second cycle.