A sewing apparatus for applying a stitch of thread to a piece of fabric is provided. The apparatus housing includes a platform for supporting a piece of fabric, and contains a grasping member that is moved to grasp and release a thread segment fed through the housing by a needle holder. The needle holder is positioned to hold a needle that has a needle aperture for pass-through, therethrough of the thread segment, and is movable between a withdrawn position, and an advanced position in which the needle holder drives the needle through the piece of fabric to bring the thread segment into position for grasping by the grasping member. The sewing apparatus also including a needle holder driver for driving the movement of the needle holder and a thread puller for pulling the thread segment to an exterior of the housing for a user to cut.

The sewing machine is configured to prevent a string-shaped material from catching on a nearby component part thereof. A guide member for guiding the string-shaped material toward a sewing position reciprocates in a lateral direction to sew the string-shaped material to a sewing workpiece through zigzag stitching. A restriction member is disposed close to the guide member and has a laterally elongated section having a length corresponding to a range of reciprocation of the guide member. The string-shaped material extending from the guide member to the sewing position is positioned to be located beneath the laterally elongated section of the restriction member. With the presence of the laterally elongated section, when the guide member reciprocates, the string-shaped material being swung left and right by the guide member is reliably positioned (restricted) beneath the laterally elongated section. The restriction member may function as a presser foot too.

The sewing machine is configured to prevent a string-shaped material from catching on a nearby component part thereof. A guide member for guiding the string-shaped material toward a sewing position reciprocates in a lateral direction to sew the string-shaped material to a sewing workpiece through zigzag stitching. A restriction member is disposed close to the guide member and has a laterally elongated section having a length corresponding to a range of reciprocation of the guide member. The string-shaped material extending from the guide member to the sewing position is positioned to be located beneath the laterally elongated section of the restriction member. With the presence of the laterally elongated section, when the guide member reciprocates, the string-shaped material being swung left and right by the guide member is reliably positioned (restricted) beneath the laterally elongated section. The restriction member may function as a presser foot too.

An exemplary embroidery accessory for a sewing machine includes a spool, a support, and a mechanism for rotating the support. The spool receives a length of embroidery material and dispenses the material as it rotates about a first axis of rotation. The support is rotatably attached to both the attachment portion and to the spool. The support includes a sewing guide with an opening for a needle of the sewing machine and a dispensing guide near the spool for guiding the embroidery material from the spool to the sewing guide. The mechanism rotates the support about a second axis of rotation that is parallel to the first axis of rotation.

An exemplary embroidery accessory for a sewing machine includes a spool, a support, and a mechanism for rotating the support. The spool receives a length of embroidery material and dispenses the material as it rotates about a first axis of rotation. The support is rotatably attached to both the attachment portion and to the spool. The support includes a sewing guide with an opening for a needle of the sewing machine and a dispensing guide near the spool for guiding the embroidery material from the spool to the sewing guide. The mechanism rotates the support about a second axis of rotation that is parallel to the first axis of rotation.

An exemplary embroidery accessory for a sewing machine includes a stationary support attached to the sewing machine and a rotating support rotatably attached to the stationary support. A drive mechanism rotates the rotating support relative to the stationary support and a spool supported by the rotating support receives and dispenses a length of embroidery material. The removable guide is removably attached to the rotating support and includes a sewing guide with a needle opening for receiving a needle of the sewing machine, and at least one guide for guiding the length of embroidery material from the spool to the sewing guide.

A controller acquires sewing data for sewing an applique piece on a sewing target material, the applique piece having a shape having a hole, the hole being a closed area surrounded by at least part of the applique piece, identifies a contour of the applique piece while distinguishing an inner contour and an outer contour, the inner contour being the contour defining the hole of the applique piece, the outer contour being the contour other than the inner contour, determines, based on the acquired sewing data, whether an inner stitch and an outer stitch are arranged at positions closer to each other than a particular distance or at positions overlapping each other, and outputs an error notification in response to determining that the inner stitch and the outer stitch are arranged at positions closer to each other than the particular distance or at positions overlapping each other.

A processing data generation device includes an input portion, a processor, and a memory. The processor is configured to receive a detection signal of the input portion. The memory configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include pattern identification processing of identifying a target pattern, region specification command acquisition processing of acquiring, via the input portion, a region specification command to select, as a cutting region, a first region surrounded by an outside of the target pattern and by the target pattern, and processing data generation processing of creating processing data for cutting out, from a workpiece to be cut, the cutting region specified by the region specification command, as an applique piece.

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.

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.