Sewing workpiece holders for sewing machines and associated methods are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a sewing workpiece holder includes a first frame that defines an opening. A second frame defines an opening. The second frame is configured to attach to the first frame and to hold a sewing workpiece therebetween. The openings of the first frame and the second frame substantially align when the second frame is attached to the first frame such that a portion of the sewing workpiece is exposed within the aligned openings when the sewing workpiece is held. A first bracket is attached to a first side of the first frame or the second frame. The first bracket is attachable to the sewing embroidery machine. A second bracket is attached to a second side of the first frame or the second frame. The second bracket is attachable to the sewing embroidery machine.

Sewing workpiece holders for sewing machines and associated methods are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a sewing workpiece holder includes a first frame that defines an opening. A second frame defines an opening. The second frame is configured to attach to the first frame and to hold a sewing workpiece therebetween. The openings of the first frame and the second frame substantially align when the second frame is attached to the first frame such that a portion of the sewing workpiece is exposed within the aligned openings when the sewing workpiece is held. A first bracket is attached to a first side of the first frame or the second frame. The first bracket is attachable to the sewing embroidery machine. A second bracket is attached to a second side of the first frame or the second frame. The second bracket is attachable to the sewing embroidery machine.

A sewing machine includes a sewing unit including a sewing machine motor, a single terminal for connecting a foot controller to the sewing machine, and a controller that controls the sewing unit. When the foot controller is not connected to the sewing machine, the single terminal allows connection of an external device to the sewing machine. The controller performs: a speed-data receiving operation to receive speed data from the foot controller connected to the sewing machine via the single terminal for controlling a sewing speed; a speed-control operation to control the sewing machine motor in accordance with the speed data received in the speed-data receiving operation; an input-data receiving operation to receive input data from the external device connected to the sewing machine via the single terminal; and a data-outputting operation to output output data to the external device via the single terminal.

The disclosure improves the quality of seams in sewing using a sewing machine, and includes: a holder holding fabric; a driver being detachable from a bed of a sewing machine and driving the holder along an upper surface of the bed; a position detector detecting a position of a sewing needle of the sewing machine in an up-down direction; and a controller controlling driving of the holder, which is performed by the driver, based on a detection result of the position detector.

A sewing machine includes a bed including a bed surface extending horizontally. A first side plate extends downward from a part of an outer periphery of the bed surface. The first side plate crosses a longitudinal direction of the bed surface. A second side plate extends downward from another part of the outer periphery of the bed surface. The second side plate crosses a short direction of the bed surface. An auxiliary device is attachable to a first mount portion. The first mount portion is provided at the first side plate. The auxiliary device includes a first extension surface extending horizontally. A wide table is attachable to a second mount portion. The second mount portion is provided at the second side plate. The wide table includes a second extension surface extending horizontally. The wide table has a different shape from the auxiliary device.

A sewing machine external unit includes: a holder holding fabric; a driver being detachable from a bed of a sewing machine and driving the holder along an upper surface of the bed; a pressing member moving in an up-down direction according to movement of a sewing needle in the up-down direction, pressing the fabric while the sewing needle is stuck in the fabric, and rising together with the sewing needle in response to the sewing needle coming out of the fabric and rising; a position detector detecting a position of the pressing member in the up-down direction; a signal output part outputting a signal to the sewing machine; and a controller outputting a needle drive signal for driving the sewing needle from the signal output part to the sewing machine, and controlling driving of the holder and/or the sewing needle based on a detection result of the position detector.