An exemplary embroidery accessory for a sewing machine includes a spool that is rotatable around a first vertical axis, a support rotatably attached to the sewing machine and to the spool, a sewing guide, and a mechanism for rotating the support around a second vertical axis of rotation. The spool receives and dispenses a length of embroidery material and is supported above a sewing bed of the sewing machine by the support. The sewing guide has a needle opening configured to receive a needle of the sewing machine and to guide the embroidery material toward the needle.

A sewing data generating unit acquires embroidery frame information and a mark alignment region displayed on a display unit for guiding multiple marks that define an embroidery region of the embroidery frame. When the marks are all positioned within the mark alignment region displayed on the display unit, the sewing data generating apparatus acquires an image of the embroidery frame and a sewing target mounted on a base cloth mounted on the embroidery frame. The sewing data generating apparatus performs image analysis based on a correspondence between the acquired information with respect to the embroidery frame and the marks in the acquired image, so as to determine the embroidery region of the embroidery frame. The sewing data generating apparatus generates outline data for the sewing target based on the determined embroidery region. This allows an applique to be sewn at an accurate position without a need to prepare dedicated data.

A sewing data generating unit acquires embroidery frame information and a mark alignment region displayed on a display unit for guiding multiple marks that define an embroidery region of the embroidery frame. When the marks are all positioned within the mark alignment region displayed on the display unit, the sewing data generating apparatus acquires an image of the embroidery frame and a sewing target mounted on a base cloth mounted on the embroidery frame. The sewing data generating apparatus performs image analysis based on a correspondence between the acquired information with respect to the embroidery frame and the marks in the acquired image, so as to determine the embroidery region of the embroidery frame. The sewing data generating apparatus generates outline data for the sewing target based on the determined embroidery region. This allows an applique to be sewn at an accurate position without a need to prepare dedicated data.

A sewing machine includes a needle bar to which a sewing needle is attached, a needle bar up-and-down motion mechanism moving the needle bar up and down and a cutting unit including a cutting needle having a distal end formed with a blade and a cutting needle up-and-down motion mechanism which is independent of the needle bar up-and-down motion mechanism and moves the cutting needle up and down. The cutting unit is located on a sewing machine bed with the blade being directed upward.

A low-cost sewing machine capable of achieving a desired balance between needle thread consumption and bobbin thread consumption is described. A memory section stores needle thread requirement data having precorrected needle thread requirement and postcorrected needle thread requirement. In a torque control zone, rotating force is imparted to a turning arm so as to impart a tension on the needle thread according to a torque value, while closing an upstream grip section main body and while opening a downstream grip section main body. In a first position control zone, the needle thread is drawn according to the postcorrected needle thread requirement, while opening the upstream grip section main body and while closing the downstream grip section. In a second position control zone, the turning arm is returned to an initial position, while closing the upstream grip section main body and while opening the downstream grip section main body.

A low-cost sewing machine capable of achieving a desired balance between needle thread consumption and bobbin thread consumption is described. A memory section stores needle thread requirement data having precorrected needle thread requirement and postcorrected needle thread requirement. In a torque control zone, rotating force is imparted to a turning arm so as to impart a tension on the needle thread according to a torque value, while closing an upstream grip section main body and while opening a downstream grip section main body. In a first position control zone, the needle thread is drawn according to the postcorrected needle thread requirement, while opening the upstream grip section main body and while closing the downstream grip section. In a second position control zone, the turning arm is returned to an initial position, while closing the upstream grip section main body and while opening the downstream grip section main body.

Presented are a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for stitching. The method includes examining, by an examiner, an embroidery design, wherein the examiner is operably coupled to a controller and a sewing head, and wherein the controller comprises a memory having a capacity, and wherein the controller is operable to cause the sewing head to stitch a work piece. The method further includes determining, by the examiner, a needle drop location of each stitch of the embroidery design, and dividing, by the examiner, the examined embroidery design into a plurality of separate sections. The method still further includes transmitting the plurality of separate sections at a plurality of different times to the controller such that the controller the plurality of separate sections do not exceed the capacity of the memory at any one of the plurality of different times.

Presented are a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for stitching. The method includes examining, by an examiner, an embroidery design, wherein the examiner is operably coupled to a controller and a sewing head, and wherein the controller comprises a memory having a capacity, and wherein the controller is operable to cause the sewing head to stitch a work piece. The method further includes determining, by the examiner, a needle drop location of each stitch of the embroidery design, and dividing, by the examiner, the examined embroidery design into a plurality of separate sections. The method still further includes transmitting the plurality of separate sections at a plurality of different times to the controller such that the controller the plurality of separate sections do not exceed the capacity of the memory at any one of the plurality of different times.

A low-cost sewing machine capable of achieving a desired balance between needle thread consumption and bobbin thread consumption is described. A memory section stores needle thread requirement data having precorrected needle thread requirement and postcorrected needle thread requirement. In a torque control zone, rotating force is imparted to a turning arm so as to impart a tension on the needle thread according to a torque value, while closing an upstream grip section main body and while opening a downstream grip section main body. In a first position control zone, the needle thread is drawn according to the postcorrected needle thread requirement, while opening the upstream grip section main body and while closing the downstream grip section. In a second position control zone, the turning arm is returned to an initial position, while closing the upstream grip section main body and while opening the downstream grip section main body.

A low-cost sewing machine capable of achieving a desired balance between needle thread consumption and bobbin thread consumption is described. A memory section stores needle thread requirement data having precorrected needle thread requirement and postcorrected needle thread requirement. In a torque control zone, rotating force is imparted to a turning arm so as to impart a tension on the needle thread according to a torque value, while closing an upstream grip section main body and while opening a downstream grip section main body. In a first position control zone, the needle thread is drawn according to the postcorrected needle thread requirement, while opening the upstream grip section main body and while closing the downstream grip section. In a second position control zone, the turning arm is returned to an initial position, while closing the upstream grip section main body and while opening the downstream grip section main body.