a sewing machine is disclosed wherein a plurality of stitch patterns encoded as digital data are stored in a static memory . a graphic pattern display element having pattern images corresponding to the plurality of stitch patterns is mounted on a cylindrical member . the cylindrical member is mounted on the output shaft of a stepping motor . rotation of the stepping motor causes the pattern images to travel past a display window through which they may be viewed by a machine operator . control elements are provided for the machine operator to cause the stepping motor to be rotated until a desired stitch pattern image is visible in a predetermined position through the display window . a stepping motor shaft position sensor is coupled to provide signals indicative of the angular position of the stepping motor shaft , which angular position corresponds to the pattern visible in the predetermined position . these signals are utilized to access the memory to retrieve therefrom the digital data corresponding to the desired stitch pattern .