a sewing or embroidering machine is provided with a thread - cutting device and a signal transmitter representing the angular position of the arm shaft . the drive of the catch thread device is acted upon as a function of the signals generated by the signal transmitter according to a movement program stored in a memory . the path data of this movement program are in a defined relation to the rotary movement or the current angular position of the hook . the drive of the catch thread device is part of a regulating device operating as a cascade control or of a control device operating as a path plan control . due to the exact agreement in time between the movement process of the catch thread device and the course of the rotary movement of the hook , the thread - cutting process can now also be carried out during the phase of deceleration of the sewing machine , so that an inexpensive , uncontrolled motor can now be used to drive the sewing machine .