a work material feeder for a sewing machine includes a work material holder which is movable within the plane perpendicular to a passageway where a needle is moved up and down , a first pulse motor which reciprocates the work material holder in one direction within the plane synchronously with the vertical movement of said needle , a second pulse motor which reciprocates the work material holder in another direction perpendicular to the aforesaid direction synchronously with the vertical movement of the needle , and a rotation divisibility switching circuit which switches the divisibility of rotation of the first and second pulse motors in several steps , the first and second pulse motors being driven in accordance with the divisibility set by the rotation divisibility switching circuit in order to move the work material holder .